SAP India launch ‘code unnati’ initiative with ITC and L&T to boost Digital India plan
SAP India has launched ‘code unnati’ initiative in collaboration with ITC limited and Larsen and Tourbo (L&T) to accelerate Digital India’s plan of enabling 60 million citizens on digital technologies by 2019.
SAP India launched ‘code unnati’ initiative in collaboration with ITC and L&T to accelerate Digital India’s plan
Deb Deep Sengupta, president and managing director of SAP Indian Subcontinent, said: “Only 10% of India’s population is digitally literate. With technology at the core of everything we do, it is our responsibility to join forces and collaborate with India Inc. to help create a Digital India. ‘code unnati’ is envisioned to equip citizens with the most pertinent IT skills that will make them more relevant in the job market, and empower them to become future-ready.”
For technology to reach the bottom of the pyramid, special focus has been put on creating an ICT environment at every Gram Panchayat (village government), as stated under Prime Minister's Village Digital Educational Policy Campaign (PMGDSA).
“ITC's Social Investments Programme spread over 84 districts in 20 States in India has enabled a multiplier impact on beneficiary communities enriching livelihoods in the present and future. ITC's partnership with SAP will enable the 'code unnati' initiative to make a deeper contribution in spreading digital education amongst children in rural Andhra Pradesh, with special focus on the girl child,” said Dr. Ashesh Ambasta, executive vice president and head of social investments at ITC Limited.
100 code unnati community services centers will be launched to provide training to the Sarpanches (village council administrators) and educate local citizens on effective utilization of various available e-services. Under PMGDSA, L&T Public Charitable Trust and SAP have already started three community services centers in Maharashtra and 33 in Rajasthan.
“Our association with SAP CSR India goes back to 2014 for digital literacy mission in Talasari, Palghar district in Maharashtra, where we have been digitally empowering tribal youth and citizens. code unnati will further bring in United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as knowledge partner for skilling & career counselling initiatives for the beneficiaries. With code unnati, we plan to expand to other states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh as well as other parts of Maharashtra, with the aim that technology can create social impact for the last mile and people at the bottom of the pyramid,” said Ashok D Shahane, vice president, Larsen and Toubro Limited & Trustee, Larsen Toubro Public Charitable Trust.
In the pilot phase, which lasts until next year, the initiative will focus on rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan as well as urban disadvantaged demographies in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Vizag and Hyderabad.