Digital solutions for inclusive growth

SPEAKER INAUGURATES SIKITEX 2012 AT CHINTAN BHAWAN
GANGTOK, 22 Nov: The fourth edition of SIKITEX and third edition of e-North East Award Summit was inaugurated by the Speaker Sikkim Legislative Assembly, KT Gyaltsen today here at Chintan Bhawan.
The two-day programme on the theme ‘Digital Inclusion for Inclusive growth in North East India’ is being organized by the department of Information and Technology and North East Development Foundation [NEDF].
SIKITEX was launched in the year 2009 as a flagship IT programme of the state which focuses on showcasing and exhibiting best ICT solutions and practices including e-Gov solutions relevant for public sector programmes across Departments in Sikkim and other NE states. Likewise, the e-North East Award Summit, started in 2010, is about scouting good practices in ICT for development and governance in North East India. The focus is on citizen services delivery, health, education, livelihood, enterprise promotion, and youth and Department of Information Technology, women empowerment in the region.
This two-day event will have five special plenary sessions by experts and the e-North East Award 2012 apart from exhibition stalls by different IT related companies and organisations from in and outside the state in the main venue itself.
In his inaugural address, the Speaker mentioned that the event aims not only to showcase the initiatives taken by the State government in the IT domain but would also provide a platform for a healthy deliberation from different stakeholders and to know about advancements in the IT sector.
He further mentioned that the state government has been giving emphasis in building a productive human resource in the state through various activities. He stressed that e-governance is an important component of a good government and the state government has seriously started work in this line already.
The Speaker urged for fruitful outcome from every discussion and deliberation in this two-day event for the benefit of the common people.
Likewise, IT Minister, NK Pradhan spoke about the various IT projects and initiatives taken by the state government in the state.
“The state government is very serious about the implementation of e-governance in the state and e-tendering has already been in practice by the government. The Chief Minister takes the latest developments in the IT sector very seriously and has been trying to develop the IT sector in the state”, said Mr Pradhan.
He also pointed out that Sikkim has the best literacy rate in the country so it offers better prospects for IT development in the state as IT has been a popular subject in the state.
NEDF Lead Partner, Syed S Kazi said that with an event like SIKITEX, Sikkim has been moving forward in the IT domain and has set an example for other states to follow in their respective areas. He also presented some brief information about the NEDF and its activities.
The inaugural session was also addressed by Sikkim University Vice Chancellor, Prof TB Subba, Founder Director of Digital Empowerment Foundation & member of Working Group on Internet Governance, Department of Electronics & IT under Ministry of C&IT, Osama Manzar, Sikkim Manipal University Vice Chancellor, Brig [Dr] Somnath Mishra, Group Director SMB, Microsoft, Sushant Dwivedy and SAAS Communication Director, Subhashis Sur.
The inaugural session started with the welcome address by IT Secretary, KK Pradhan and ended with the vote of thanks by IT Principal Director, Rajesh Verma.