Global South Needs Digital Infra for SDGs: Kant
By Rediff Money Desk, NEWDELHI Dec 05, 2023 15:09
India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant emphasizes the need for digital public infrastructure in the Global South to achieve sustainable development goals. He highlights the importance of digital identity, bank accounts and fast payments.
![Global South Needs Digital Infra for SDGs: Kant](https://im.rediff.com/money/2020/dec/09amitabh-kant.jpg)
New Delhi, Dec 5 (PTI) The Global South needs to adopt digital public infrastructure to technologically leapfrog and achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said on Tuesday.
Addressing an event organised by Carnegie India, Kant said now the world will grow on the back of digital public infrastructure.
He said if the the world has to grow equitably then the global south is important because 4 billion people still do not have digital identity, 1.3 billion people do not have a bank account, while 133 countries in the world do not have fast payments.
"And therefore you need the digital public infrastructure to enable these countries to technologically leapfrog and ensure that we are able to make sustainable development goals reached to them.
"And that is really the key, the SDGs must reach the global south," Kant said.
The term 'global south' is used to refer poor and developing countries.
The former NITI Aayog CEO noted that during the COVID period, while the world was giving out large packages, which led to then inflation, India was able to put money straight into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries using digital public infrastructure.
"800 million people got money straight into the bank account without any leakages," he added.
He said the government is working to link artificial intelligence (AI) to the digital public infrastructure.
"What it does is...anyone sitting in any part of India can use his local dialect to get information, fill up the form in his local language through the voice and get access to any government scheme," Kant explained.
According to him, India's digital public infrastructure is transforming lives of citizens.
Addressing an event organised by Carnegie India, Kant said now the world will grow on the back of digital public infrastructure.
He said if the the world has to grow equitably then the global south is important because 4 billion people still do not have digital identity, 1.3 billion people do not have a bank account, while 133 countries in the world do not have fast payments.
"And therefore you need the digital public infrastructure to enable these countries to technologically leapfrog and ensure that we are able to make sustainable development goals reached to them.
"And that is really the key, the SDGs must reach the global south," Kant said.
The term 'global south' is used to refer poor and developing countries.
The former NITI Aayog CEO noted that during the COVID period, while the world was giving out large packages, which led to then inflation, India was able to put money straight into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries using digital public infrastructure.
"800 million people got money straight into the bank account without any leakages," he added.
He said the government is working to link artificial intelligence (AI) to the digital public infrastructure.
"What it does is...anyone sitting in any part of India can use his local dialect to get information, fill up the form in his local language through the voice and get access to any government scheme," Kant explained.
According to him, India's digital public infrastructure is transforming lives of citizens.
DISCLAIMER - This article is from a syndicated feed. The original source is responsible for accuracy, views & content ownership. Views expressed may not reflect those of rediff.com India Limited.
You May Like To Read
TODAY'S MOST TRADED COMPANIES
- Company Name
- Price
- Volume
- GTL Infrastructure
- 2.93 ( -4.87)
- 226006984
- IFL Enterprises
- 1.30 (+ 4.84)
- 78203419
- Vodafone Idea L
- 16.88 (+ 1.20)
- 60312436
- NCL Research
- 0.95 ( -4.04)
- 31360935
- Franklin Industries
- 3.78 (+ 4.71)
- 20054794
MORE NEWS
![India Needs 2...](https://im.rediff.com/80-80/money/2023/jun/19ev.jpg)
India Needs 2 Lakh EV Skilled Workers by 2030:...
India's auto industry needs 2 lakh skilled workers by 2030 to meet the government's 30%...
Axiscades Appoints Tanmoy Chakrabarty as...
Axiscades, an engineering solutions provider, has appointed Tanmoy Chakrabarty as a...
![Bajaj Auto Q1...](https://im.rediff.com/80-80/money/2024/jul/12july-auto1.jpg)
Bajaj Auto Q1 Profit Jumps 18% to Rs 1,942 Cr
Bajaj Auto's consolidated profit after tax rose by 18% to Rs 1,942 crore in the June...