Full transcript: Sam Pitroda's Twitter conference on 'democratisation of information'

New Delhi: Following the mouse clicks of tech-savvy Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, the UPA government held its first Twitter conference.

Sam Pitroda, the Prime Minister's adviser on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, answered questions from Twitter users on 'democratisation of information' between 3:30 PM and 4:15 PM on Tuesday.

Pitroda answered questions from his @pitrodasam Twitter account for the interactive session.

$Full transcript: Sam Pitroda\'s Twitter conference on \'democratisation of information\'$

Sam Pitroda answered questions from Twitter users on 'democratisation of information' between 3:30 PM and 4:15 PM on Tuesday.

Following is the full transcript of the interactive session.

View the story "Sam Pitroda's Twitter conference" on StorifySam Pitroda's Twitter conferenceSam Pitroda, adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, conducted a Twitter session 'democratisation of information' on 25 September 2012. Here's the transcript.Storified by IBNLive · Tue, Sep 25 2012 06:34:13Before we start, have a look at my press briefing on ‘Democratisation of Information’ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Hm_7v7HRo&list=UUh7EUh69RBoRL-xkMWKFwfA&index=1&feature=plcp #DoISam PitrodaWelcome to our 1st press conference on 'Democratization of Information' on Twitter in India. The #Hash tag for today is #DoISam PitrodaWe appreciate your talking time out from your busy schedule to participate #DoISam PitrodaI firmly believe that #Information is the 4th pillar of #democracy along with legislature, executive and judiciary #DoISam Pitroda#Information brings about openness,accessibility,transparency,accountability,networking,decentralisation & as a result #democratisation #DoISam PitrodaInformation is power and not many wish to share. Info is critical for development and needs to be timely available to people. #DoISam PitrodaNow that #India is a country of a billion #connected people, the challenge is to create a new paradigm for #development #DoISam PitrodaPublic #Information Infrastructure (PII) will transform India’s 1.2 billion people into 1.2 billion opportunities: http://iii.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107:public-information-infrastructure&catid=48:presentations&Itemid=2 #DoISam PitrodaUPA Govt has various plans to build robust Information Infrastructure to democratize information on a scale that has never been done before-Sam Pitroda-UPA Govt also has political will to make it happen #DoISam PitrodaThis will have far reaching implications on delivery of #public services, #Governance, #Education, #Health, #Agriculture, etc. #DoISam PitrodaHowever, it will require new mindset and commitment of the young to change the course #DoISam PitrodaPII includes the NKN to connect 1500 nodes for universities, colleges, R&D labs, Libraries, etc. Visit http://www.nkn.in #DoISam PitrodaPII also includes fibre connectivity to all 250000 #panchayats #DoISam PitrodaTo build PII, we need multiple open platforms for Broadband, UID, GIS, Security, Applications, Payment and Portals #DoISam PitrodaDo go through our detailed #presentation on Public #Information Infrastructure at: http://iii.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107:public-information-infrastructure&catid=48:presentations&Itemid=2 #DoISam PitrodaI believe that the NKN is a game changer and is going to revolutionise the way we #connect, #collaborate and deliver #education. #DoISam PitrodaThe NKN has enormous possibilities: Virtual Classrooms, Research Collab, etc. Read the NKN Brochure for details: http://nkn.in/download.php?file=NKN_Brochure.pdf #DoISam PitrodaWe have the #open government platform at http://www.data.gov.in will provide access to govt. data and documents #DoISam PitrodaWe need your support and help in making this happen. Please visit our websites and give us your ideas and inputs. #DoISam PitrodaAll this will require innovations, new business models, process reengineering, new products and new services and lot more #DoISam PitrodaI now welcome questions on twitter. Thank you. #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Is democratization of info possible without a radical change in the mindsets of our legislators and bureaucrats?Soumyajit Pattnaik@soumyajitt No. But we need to start now. It will take time.Sam PitrodaWhat does #DOI "Democratisation of Information" mean for a villager who does not have access to information? @pitrodasamGaurav Julka@GauravJulka1 The purpose is to give them access to informationSam Pitroda@pitrodasam how can wireless broadband internet access be scaled up to the ubiquity achieved by the STD booth that revolutionised telephony?Prithwis Mukerjee@prithwis all 250,000 Panchayats will have fibre connectivity to ensure ubiquity #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam what documents will become public. What departments? what plans to make governance transparent? #DOIShivangi Narayan@ShivangiNarayan Certain sensitive information will have to be controlled by the government #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam for democratization of information, it is vital to ensure that Bhart Broadband is completed on schedule,but this looks unlikeyJoji Philip Thomas@jojiphilip Pilot projects on Panchayat connectivity already underway, hopeful it will be done in next 18 months #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Shouldn't information be the foundation for other three?Deepika@Dips_88 YES. However Information platform is needed to integrate ,create standards and improve access.#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam #DoI 1. Induction of IT being the way to improve Governance why India not using its IT capability in all Govt., Judiciary etc.P. Abraham Paul@PA_Paul We are infact doing exactly that! Delhi High Court is a good example.Sam Pitroda@pitrodasam: Appreciate the National Knowledge Network #DoI How can such a network be replicated amongst districts in a state? Any Plans?Rachit Seth@rachitseth NKN is already in all States upto Block level and State Governments have to leverage it #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam #Hash #DoI why a separate infrastructure and investment is needed why can't the existing network be used ?Yatish K Rajawat@yatishrajawat we are using all existing infrastructure and not duplicating! A million km of OFC already exists! #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Information is also about free sharing of ideas between people. #connected #development #DoIAbhinav Kr Rai@videathink Agree. It is not just govt. Education ,Health,Agriculture,etc is more for the people and by the people.#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam I would want to use the data at http://data.gov.in in useful apps for people, but will it be updated with latest copies of it?Aman Alam@AmanAlam Work underway to get more data on http://Data.gov for citizens to develop relevant applications #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam its a highly welcoming step by you sir..thanks for the conference on twitter !MAULIN SHAH@maulinshah9 Welcome. #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam how can citizens contribute to this agenda?Anukampa Gupta.@anukampagupta citizens can develop relevant useful information and apps in local language #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Sir please elaborate about NKN. The report has been submitted long ago but nothing substantial has happened. Situation now?Shivangi Narayan@ShivangiNarayan NKN is already operational, 850 institutions are connected, visit website nkn.in to get status update #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam How do you plan to go about executing the idea and in how much time? #DoISwapna@swapnapillai Various dept will decide that. First there will be some concerns. However, I am sure after a while dep will be more open. #DoISam Pitroda.@pitrodasam Former RTI commissioner Shailesh Gandhi had said that Bureaucrats are killing the whole Information system. what would you saysushil Jey@sushiljadu I am hopeful this will change.#DoISam PitrodaWe are applying ICT for improving Justice Delivery. Look at our work on #Courts of Tomorrow - http://iii.gov.in/images/stories/Courts%20of%20Tomorrow%204.0.pdf@India_Review #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam would you pls let us know what r those plans of the UPA govt to make it happen? #DoIVishwa Mohan@VishwaMohan UPA has created NKN, BB to Panchayats and other plans underway to build PII, see http://iii.gov.in #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Can u update us on the Innovation network and initiatives supporting entrepreneurshipsyednazirrazik@joesat Pls have a look at the website of the National Innovation Council.#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Will there be standards set for how information is shared by state government departs? e-governance has had limited successKarthik Subramanian@skarthik140 Move to cloud computing will ensure common standards #DoISam PitrodaHave a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EViMlOJZqE&list=UUh7EUh69RBoRL-xkMWKFwfA&index=1&feature=plcp for more details on NKN. Also visit http://www.nkn.in #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam @IndiaSpend Data is often presented in excel sheets which are difficult to comprehend.Are there any plans of visualization? #DoISourjyaBhowmickIts because the system is manual today and that's why we are building PII @sourjyabhowmick @indiaspendSam PitrodaIt seems like there is substantial interest in this conference. I am impressed with the energy of Our young. #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Sir http://Data.gov is an american govt run site.. Is the NKN project depending on the US? #DoIGIBBspeaks9786787@ India's site http://data.gov.in, not dependent on US, NKN solely Indian project connecting edu institutionsSam Pitroda@pitrodasam What are your views on growth with regard to #CLOUD and #MOBILE services in INDIA #DoIBalaji Ramesh@BalajiDruv cloud computing beginning, answer to standards in many areas. Mobile will move more to data & applicationsSam Pitroda@pitrodasam what are the steps government is taking to monitor the DOI on social media #DoIAyesha@ayesha_minhaz @pitrodasam That was the idea of the press conf.#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam 250,000 Panchayats with OFC..any time line and budget allocation for the same?Shrikanth GAround Rs. 30,000 Crores in 18 Months @ShrikanthGSam Pitroda@pitrodasam sir do u u think twitter is a powerful weapon to change society? dd newssidhantAbsolutely! @sidhantSam Pitroda@pitrodasam #DoI All info would be made available or do restrictions apply?Shraddha@ShraddhaDG Depends on the source of the info.3DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam PII may b a gud idea. But how it works on groundlevel, esp for rural people, asfaras beaurocratic systm remain the same? #DoIAashish@aash_tvm We hope the creative talent of India will work its magic on the ground to deliver results #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam why don't we facilitate online payment for RTI application. Its big pain to go to bank to make DD for Rs.10 or so...GAURAV MITTALGood Idea! @mitta_nitj #DoISam PitrodaDear @pitrodasam: Building connectivity & improving access is a great thing. But "democratisation of information" is jargon sans meaning.Nitin Pai@acorn @pitrodasam It actually makes sense if they're trying to give everybody access to information. But jargon, yesShashank M@shashankm14 @acorn That is the objective in the long run.#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam sir in process to implement e governence what is biggest hurdle-power or lack of initiative?narendra nathReengineering of processes is a big hurdle! @iamnarendranathSam PitrodaAlso dear @pitrodasam: Even as I agree with your objectives, we must be very clear on the role of the state & the private sectors.Nitin Pai@acorn Agree.#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam e-courts project under NeGP missed deadline several times. Courts still have arrears of more than 3 crore cases #DoIGovernance Now@governancenow Model courts initiative underway in Govt, Delhi high court leading by example #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam please give the link of the websiteShivangi NarayanVisit http://www.data.gov.in @ShivangiNarayan and http://www.iii.gov.inSam PitrodaQuick video on Impact of #Rural #Broadband: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTJ7TGcca8&list=UUh7EUh69RBoRL-xkMWKFwfA&index=3&feature=plcp #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Apart from connectivity, what concrete policy changes are planned to democratise information? What synergies with RTI? #DoIPriscilla Jebaraj@prisjebaraj It starts with RTI. To back it up, we need PII. And then provide access to real time info to ppl on demand.Sam Pitroda@pitrodasam Can you please define what does 'democratisation of information' mean?Pratyush Ranjan@pratyush_ranjan Information Access for everyone.#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam What is the timeline to implement NKN completely across all edu institutions it planned to cover? #DOIchokkapan srinivasan@chockool NKN will connect all public universities and R&D labs by end of the year # DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam Income ,expenditure of govt depts must be available live on govt websites on day to day basisP.MohanGood idea! Strongly agree. @CAPMohan #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam In a country where most rural schools don't have roofs and elec, what will this Rs 5990 crore prog give the common man? #DoIDevjyot Ghoshal@DevjyotGhoshal They can take online courses .#DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam why is NKN limited to institutions ? no access for citizen so farRajeevnath@rajeevnath NKN is meant to connect edu institutions to improve research collaboration, rural BB will impact citizensSam Pitroda@pitrodasam what's the role of panchayat in http://Data.gov #DoIKarnan RamamurthyPanchayat can put their data on http://data.gov directly #DoI @rkarnanSam Pitroda@pitrodasam Can't you link RTI and open data? Otherwise, don't you think it will be like any other IT project #DoIGovernance NowThe whole idea of PII is to provide a backbone to RTI @governancenow #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam...what is the plan to end digital divide or we going to see one more form of great inequality. #DoINasiruddin H Khan@dhaiakhar Whole purpose of Rural Broadband is to end digital divide by empowering rural citizens #DoISam Pitroda@sampitroda Why is internet access, which is a basic right in many countries, so expensive in India?#DoITimes of India@timesofindia @sampitroda Hopefully prices will go down as we get more broadband capacity and OFC to panchayats #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam #DoI Will you allow PPP Model in the NOFN so as to complete it within timelines....Anand Menon@sanandmenon20 NOFN fibre being laid by BSNL, PowerGrid, railtel, private players also being used to lay fibre #DoISam Pitroda@pitrodasam when rural areas have no power,how will they use broadband???srinivasa raghavan@srini18scholes solar power is being planned at PanchayatsSam PitrodaVisit our FB page for some photographs of today's #twitter meet: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adviser-to-the-PM-on-PIII-Sam-Pitroda/100738043327407 #DoISam PitrodaEnjoyed interacting with all of you, wish had more time. More next time. Hope we do this more often. Signing off. Thanks a lot. SP #DoISam Pitroda