SUMMARY
The government is using third-party platforms for sharing non-critical information
Both tech giants are offering these tool free of charge
Indian startups are also offering their services to the government
Tech major Microsoft and Cisco are now helping the Narendra Modi government manage its operations with a remote working force thanks to collaboration tools. The technology and data management committee of the central government has decided to use tools provided by these companies for sharing of non-critical information.
A government official said that these companies have provided some helpful tools free of cost to help the Modi government effectively manage the various departments at a very critical time. However, given the sensitive nature of some government work, the tools are only being used for non-critical communication.
According to an ET report, the tools are helping government departments and employees to share files and information from remote locations. As of now, many government agencies, working with frontline workers tackling the coronavirus, are now using tools from Microsoft and Cisco. Most teams using these tools are working from some of the most remote parts of the country and are educating people on how they can curb the spread of the coronavirus.
For the transfer of critical information, the committee has advised the government to rely on technologies developed by the state-owned National Informatics Centre (NIC). This committee is a part of 11 empowered groups which are appointed by the government to plan and implement Covid-19 response activities. IT secretary Ajay Sawhney is currently heading the team. Telecom secretary Anshu Prakash, additional director general of ICMR GS Toteja, and joint secretary of cabinet secretariat Bharat Khera are also part of the team.
Govt Turns To Startups For Covid-19 Solutions
The committee has also been given with the responsibility to get inputs from startups, tech players, healthcare providers, diagnostic companies and other stakeholders who can help the government with testing kits or other resources.
A government official said that startups and large corporates are giving innovative ideas on tackling this emergency. The official gave the example of C-DAC Pune which is now offering supercomputing for gene sequencing of the virus. The committee has passed on the suggestion of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
The team is also streamlining coronavirus data which helps the government to quickly track the spread of this deadly virus across the country on a real-time basis. The committee is aiming to act as an information filter to prevent the spread of misinformation among communities.
The committee is ensuring that all data of positive tested individuals, quarantined people, among others from across the country is systematically collected and with the help of ICMR and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The information is going to be the basis for the Covid-19 application.
