- The detailed project report has been formulated by CSC e-Governance Services Ltd, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT
- A Cabinet note will be floated for approval, and it is expected that funding will be allocated in the Budget scheduled on July 5
The government plans to roll out digital villages project by July end, which is estimated to cost around Rs 10,000 crore to the exchequer.
In the first year, about 50,000 digital villages (Digi Gaons) will be set up. The villages will be linked through optical fibre provided by BharatNet, a senior official from the ministry of communications told DNA Money. Another 50,000 digital villages will be set up in the second phase of the project.
The detailed project report has been formulated by CSC e-Governance Services Ltd, under the Ministry of Electronics and IT and will be put up for the approval of the minister Ravi Shankar Prasad next week. Subsequently, a Cabinet note will be floated for approval, and it is expected that funding will be allocated in the Budget scheduled on July 5.
Progress so far
The ambitious program of setting up these digital villages was announced in this year’s Interim Budget. CSCs have already set up 700 digital villages. An investment of about Rs 10 lakh is required for turning one village into a digital one, according to estimates. The internet connection will be provided through BharatNet, the government’s program to connect rural hinterland.
The minister after taking charge of the communications ministry on Monday had said the setting up of 1 lakh digital villages will be expedited and assets of BharatNet will be leveraged for improving digital service delivery.
