Achieving millennium development goals: Role of ICTS innovations in India

Abstract

The paper outlines the problem faced by India, in dealing with its rural poor, who live in 600,000 villages with poor infrastructure and continue to do so, even after 60 years of independence and constitute about 72.2% of 1027 million. The paper also deals with means and measures to increase their income level. To achieve this, the government must redefine its policies and strategies, deploy information and communication technologies (ICTs) innovations with application and active participation from development organizations. It presents an overview of ICTs and their role in development, particularly in the context of millennium development goals (MDGs). Details select ICTs innovations of India in achieving MDGs. Further, it lists out India’s position in relation to MDGs by highlighting India’s target, current status and steps taken to achieve them. Concludes that with well thought out planning, comprehensive development strategies devised in the national policy and matching implementation process, it is hoped that India will be able to meet the challenges and achieve all the MDGs targets much earlier than the targeted dates. India’s progress in achieving the MDGs will impact not only on its own people but also on the development of South Asia and the world.