Internet giant Google is keen to work with the Assam government in strengthening internet connectivity across the rural belt of the state. A delegation of Google India led by its country head, public policy Chetan Krishnaswamy met Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Guwahati on February 9 and discussed various issues for boosting government’s efforts to realize the goal of digital Assam.
The Google India team apprised the chief minister about several measures for enhancing use of digital medium in the operation of small business, skill development, promotion of cultural sites, supporting the eco-system and the ‘internet sarathi’ project successfully implemented in different parts of the country by the internet giant.
The chief minister informed the delegation that the government gives special focus on connecting the rural masses through new technology and empowering their skills. Keeping this in mind, provisions have been made in the state budget and knowledge centre is proposed in each village of the state, Sonowal added.
The chief minister also asked the Google team to find out ways to augment internet penetration substantially in the rural areas and projecting Assam as the gateway to the Southeast Asia.
