New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have signed an MoU to expand digital services in rural areas. The agreement, formalized under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) initiative, aims to enhance broadband connectivity and digital governance in institutions supported by NABARD.
Key Aspects of the Collaboration
Broadband Expansion for Rural Institutions
Under the MoU, DBN will provide high-speed broadband connectivity through the BharatNet program to rural institutions such as Primary Agriculture Co-operative Credit Societies (PACS). NABARD will facilitate the integration of ICT infrastructure in these institutions to enhance digital access.
Data and Content Sharing
NABARD will share geo-coordinates and details of its supported institutions with DBN, while DBN will provide information on BharatNet’s broadband Points of Presence (PoPs) in Gram Panchayats. Both entities will also exchange digital content, including text, audio, and video resources, related to their schemes and initiatives.
Digital Services and Capacity Building
DoT and NABARD will integrate their digital services, citizen-centric applications, and e-governance platforms to improve access to government initiatives. Awareness programs and capacity-building measures will be launched for rural entrepreneurs, startups, and institutions to promote digital adoption.
Officials and Industry Participation
The MoU was signed in the presence of senior officials, including DoT Secretary Dr. Neeraj Mittal, DBN Administrator Niraj Verma, BSNL CMD Robert Ravi, NABARD CMD Shaji K.V., and other key stakeholders.
This collaboration aligns with the government’s push for rural digitization, leveraging BharatNet’s high-speed broadband infrastructure to bridge the digital divide in rural India.
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