I visited my village Narayanpur, in Assam for my vacations. It is an altogether a different experience with great people and greenery all around. I did notice some changes. Every household had at least one smartphone. Every third person had a Facebook account. They are happy now but that is not striking because they were happy even without these technological advancements. However, what made me sad and what woes them to no end is the fact that even in this age they have frequent power cuts. It is rare that there is uninterrupted power supply for four hours at a stretch. I used to stay in Bihar and some villages do not even have schools and hospitals. Even in 2015 we are still not able to make our villages self-sufficient and independent. Forget a CCTV-monitored anganwadi many villages do not even have a four-walled structure as a school. If we want the model village to be a reality let us first provide our villages with basics amenities, change their mindsets and then set up this world.
Ispita Borah
Class 10, Jindal Vidya Mandir,
Bellary.
Technologically developing thousands of villages is possible. People in villages must be aware of the technological devices. Next, government should support and encourage people to use the devices. It will make the lives of people simple. Students, especially will develop interest in their subjects. It may also help them connect with rest of the world. It will stop them from travelling to towns to buy certain requirements. They may easily order things online.
K. Goutham,
Class 10, The Titan School,
Hosur.
No, our villages are not digital ready because they do not have proper facilities like banking, wide roads, playing fields, and hospitals. Many villages do not have digital connectivity. And, in many, electric current supply is not there. Our villages should be developed for a digital India. To make an effort towards making the cities smart we need to look at making our villages smart first.
Fardeen Baig,
Class 9, Karnatak Public School,
Bidar.
Even today, people living in rural areas are heavily dependent on village money lenders. Banking network has still not reached every village in India. Despite regulations, access to organised credit remains a distant dream in rural India. The vicious circle of poverty strongly binds a villager to lifelong debt to the village money lender. Farmers in rural India, have little access to latest information about weather changes and agricultural practices. All these key issues need to be addressed by the Digital Village project. The biggest challenge to the project would be the cost of providing broadband connectivity at affordable costs to distant villages. This is a great initiative and has potential to change the destiny of India as a nation. The onus is on each one of us to contribute to this project and make it a success.
Navojit Roy
Class 11, Chettinad Vidyashram,
Chennai.
We make use of technology for our every need right from banking to planning a vacation or even to buy a dress. When people living in cities make use of technology to such an extent, is it wrong for those living in villages to make use of it to transfer money or to help the children study? Akodara is a model village and every village should take inspiration from it. Like how ICICI bank provided them with tablets and a way to pay their bills online, all banks should try to provide rural areas with such facilities. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks towards the development and progress of our country. This is possible if all are educated and literate.
Namitha S.,
Class 9, Mitra Academy.
Execution is key to the success of the ‘Digital India’ vision. A dream of this magnitude can turn into reality when we collaborate with stakeholders. There is cause for hope that the Finance Minister will unveil an attractive package and bring us a step closer to realising the ‘Digital India’ dream.
Vaishnavi
Class 10, Jindal Vidya Mandir,
Bellary.
We should ask to government to give digital facilities at a cheap price or for free, because it is also a way to educate. If those living in villages don’t have access to digital facilities they won’t get the same education as those living in cities.
Nandhana,
Class 6, SRK International School,
Kulasekharam.
It’s the dream of every individual to have a world with many facilities. We need self -reliant organisations to help to implement this project. There should also be some restrictions on Wi-Fi and Facebook to protect children from misuse of social media.
S.P.V.S.S. Bhumika
Class 9, Viswakavi (E.M.) High school,
Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh.
No, our villages are not digital ready. The Akodara model can be replicated if some public or private institutions like ICICI, take an initiative to adopt the villages and provide well-equipped digital facilities. Those living in villages should also actively take part to achieve this goal.
Sree Varsha
Class 10, Jindal Vidya Mandir,
Bellary.
Mahatma Gandhi observed that the future of India lies in its villages. If our villages are self sufficient then many problems like migration of people from villages to cities for better opportunities, health, and education will be solved. A digital village can only be possible with strong political commitment. Basic infrastructure must be created in order to make villages digital.
Gayathri
Class 9, Narayana E-Techno School,
Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh.
The idea of a digital village is commendable. This destroys the distinctions between rural and urban areas. Every transaction should be made via cards and phones to minimise crime rates. This plan should improve both agriculture and technology throughout India.
R. Nanditha,
Class 11, SBOA Matriculation School,
Coimbatore.
