Mumbai:
India has launched a pilot project of an ambitious e-network initiative which
will connect 53 nations of the continent via satellite. The
pilot project for tele-education and tele-medicine under the Rs542.9 crore pan-African
programme was inaugurated by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee in Addis
Ababa. A brainchild
of president APJ Abdul Kalam, the programme aims at bridging the digital divide
in Africa and develop the continent''s information and communication technologies
by eventually connecting all the 53 countries by a satellite through a fibre-optic
network. Ethiopia,
South Africa, Ghana and Mauritius will be the initial beneficiaries of the project,
said to be the largest infrastructure project in Africa''s history. State-run
Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd is implementing the project. The
tele-medicine project will connect hospitals in Ethiopia with top-notch healthcare
institutes in India while the tele-education programme would provide an opportunity
to Ethiopian students to get higher education at low cost from top quality Indian
institutions. The
e-network project "continues the tradition of India''s close partnership with
the countries of Africa in their developmental efforts aimed at the well being
of their people," Mukherjee said at the launch of the pilot project. Kalam
had in 2004 proposed the project during his visit to South Africa. The government
also signed a memorandum of understanding with African Union in 2005 to formalise
the project, which was also approved by the Union cabinet. "Education
and knowledge are the prime drivers of economic and social development and through
this project, we will be able to strengthen our cooperation with Ethiopia in this
critical field," Mukherjee said inaugurating the tele-education project at
the Addis Ababa University . "Students
would not have to leave the country. The programme is expandable," he said
and expressed happiness at Ethiopian government''s desire to extend the programme
to 20 more universities and colleges in the country. Health
security is a prime requirement of any society and this will help strengthen New
Delhi ''s cooperation with Addis Ababa in this vital sector, he said. "The
tele-medicine programme will bring benefits of healthcare closer to the people.
Patients will no longer be required to travel to far off places to avail expensive
and expert medical advise," he added.
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