Technological advancements are creating job opportunities but skill is still required to avail them
In recent years, technological advancements have generated innumerable opportunities for economic and social development in India. And successive budgets have only strengthened this process, ensuring that people enjoy ease of living with the help of technology. In this year’s budget too, the priority has been given to technology and a human touch. India of the 21st century is constantly empowering its citizens with the use of technology and improving the livelihoods of millions of those facing any kind of deprivation by increasing food production also. Here, harnessing the potential of new technologies more efficiently becomes important to create higher standards and ease of living.
It is technologies that have allowed people to work from home, order things online, personal transport services and book all sorts of things, which can spring into people’s minds today. These monumental and unprecedented changes taking place in the Indian economy are bringing in new processes in increasingly interactive and sophisticated ways. The adopted policies and their positive effects are progressively making lives simpler. Here, an encouraging element is that the government’s intervention has reduced drastically and citizens no longer consider them an obstacle, rather, they look at the government as a catalyst where technology plays a huge role.
How technologies like ‘One Nation One Ration Card’, Jan Dhan, Aadhar, Mobile, Arogya Setu, CoWin App, railway reservation, Common Service Centers and others, have enhanced the ease of living of the citizens, was simply unbelievable in just a few years earlier. The ease of communication with the government has also empowered people like never before, as they get quick resolutions to their issues, which remained pending for years earlier. Now, between people’s grievances and the redressal, there is no individual involved, if there is something, it is just technology, which is solving people’s problems and makes processes truly global.
In making things further easier and government employees more accountable, ‘Mission Karmyogi’ is there, which is also a part of this technological progression, where government employees are being trained with a view to becoming more citizen-centric. With the government investing heavily in improving digital infrastructure- modifications and improvements have become much easier because of the efficient feedback system. The best part of this process is that technology provides equal opportunities to all without any disparity and deprivation. For example, the GeM portal is giving a presentation to small businessmen and even street vendors in government procurement. Similarly, e-NAM is allowing farmers to get linked with buyers at different places.
The way the government is laying the roadmap for AI, 5G, Digilocker and other technologies, driving the fourth economic revolution, has a great impact on industry, medicine, education, agriculture and other sectors. Several significant technological steps have been taken to support MSMEs. The involvement of technologies also makes them more profitable and larger. Moreover, the government has also become a loan guarantor for MSMEs, which makes it easier for them to avail of credit from financial institutions. Finally, a lot more progress can be expected from this technology revolution, as our youth are talented, manpower is getting skilled and people have the willingness to adopt technology and adapt changes.
(The writer is a senior journalist)
