Broadband not to be exclusively for elite: minister

According to union minister of state for communications and IT Sachin Pilot, broadband internet access would be cheaper once the centre's steps to take IT to the masses are put in place. He was speaking at a function in Bangalore.

Pilot said the government had a mandate to connect every single panchayat with high-speed internet access over the next two years. He added that IT was not meant only for the educated and the elite and the power of IT should make a difference to every villager.

Pilot was speaking at the inaugural session of Bangalore IT.biz 2010. He said "It's my endeavour to make sure this image - the psychological barriers we have had of the IT sector - is broken down. This sector is not for the elite and the educated in a few cities."

He added, "The real job, the real essence, the real value of the tech sector is not in creating investments and earning dollars. If the sector can improve the life of the common man, that's the true value."

He said when panchayats get connected it would effect a paradigm shift in the interaction between citizens, state and central governments, and local bodies in terms of quicker, faster and transparent services delivery.

According to union IT secretary, Shashi Kant Sharma when information was made available online, the twin concerns of security of systems and privacy of personal information need to be addressed.