As more and more Indian localities catch up with the digital revolution, cyber threat too must be tackled
For almost a decade now, the spread of technology, as well as the deep penetration of the Internet of Things has caused major upheavals not only for the country’s economy but for society and the way people are being connected and how they access information and knowledge relevant or important to them. Cities have been at the forefront in adopting this digital revolution which is also a part of Prime Minister's Smart City project that aims to make Indian cities environment-friendly and digital-friendly, thereby improving the quality of life of citizens. It is good news, then, that Delhi’s Ashok Vihar, situated in the North-West corner of the city, has become the Capital’s first locality to carve a niche for itself in cyberspace. Joining the league of other localities/districts in Kerala, Mumbai and Gujarat, Ashok Vihar is now digital-ready and Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Harsh Vardhan, will inaugurate an online portal comprising a website and an application tomorrow which will integrate all civic, utility and other services in the area. With all information conveniently available to residents, they are set to experience a truly seamlessly connected system. Residents of this locality as well as visitors can avail of numerous services, including information related to the location of shops, malls, hotels, hospitals, educational institutes and community centres amongst others. Transactions, too can be conducted via the portal, through online payments with a single click.
The challenges and risks associated with storing and managing vast amounts of data, however, must be met robustly and continuous upgradation of security systems would be needed to prevent data theft or hacking. With the portal containing residents' personal details too, from their addresses to their telephone numbers, it will the most prone to cyber-crimes. The provision of a strong security framework is a sine qua non without which the very purpose of the initiative will be defeated. Of course, to build a smart city, work on the ground in terms of urban infrastructure planning and maintenance is the key though the digitisation of information and ease of access to it is an excellent first step.