Odias Welcome Google’s Tech Push In India

Odias Welcome Google’s Tech Push In India

Google’s proposal to invest $10 billion to boost India’s aim to become a key player in the global digital economy is being roundly applauded in Odisha, in both urban and rural landscapes.

Shakti, a Bhubaneswar-based IT professional, told My City Links: “Technology is the future and there are no two opinions about that. In the urban areas, our lives already revolve around tech gadgets and the internet of things. Now that Google, which is the biggest innovator in the world, has taken the first concrete step to empower India, I am hoping that Microsoft, Facebook and other tech giants will also follow suit.”

Stressing on the importance of going digital, Shakti felt that the next logical step should be to improve infrastructure and take the digital revolution to rural areas so that everyone can benefit.

“We have seen how the urban youth in India are using technology for education, recreation, communication, business and they are thriving with it. Now is the time to take it to the next level. We have the knowledge and skills and all we need is good infrastructure. The Odisha government is heavily weighing in favour of technology which is a good sign,” he added.

Rakesh, an engineering graduate and a farmer from Bargarh, concurred that technology can provide a level playing field for rural areas. “I have already been using technology in my farming activities like monitoring crops and animals efficiently for some time now. Technology also provides valuable insights into how to manage my plantations. But very few people here rely on technology. With Google’s foray, I hope more and more people will have access and start taking tech help,” he said.

“If Odisha wants to increase its agricultural output and improve the quality of produce then more and more farmers need to be educated about technology. With the increased usage of tech, we will have comprehensive local data to plan our activities better and in a coordinated manner. I am glad that Google has shown interest in India,” he added.

Notably, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a Google For India Digitisation Fund through which the tech behemoth will invest $10 billion over the next five to seven years. This would be a significant push for India’s aim to go completely digital. 

Google plans to move ahead with this through a mixture of equity investments, partnerships and an operational infrastructure ecosystem. “This is a reflection of our confidence in the future of India and it’s the digital economy,” said Pichai, during the Google for India virtual conference on Monday.

The major focus areas for this investment will be enabling affordable access to information for every Indian in their own language, building new products and services that are relevant to India’s unique needs, empowering businesses to embark on digital transformation and leveraging technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI) for social good in areas like health, agriculture and education. 

As part of the plan, Pichai has interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed leveraging the power of technology to transform the lives of India’s farmers, youth and entrepreneurs. One of the major points of discussion was how technology is shaping up a new work culture amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

“There’s no question we are facing a difficult moment today, in India and around the world. The dual challenges to our health and to our economies have forced us to rethink how we work and how we live. But times of challenge can lead to incredible moments of innovation. Our goal is to ensure India not only benefits from the next wave of innovation but leads it,” Pichai said. 

Google also announced a partnership with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), just days after Facebook had announced a partnership with the board. Google said it aims to support over one million teachers across 22,000 schools in India through its partnership. 

The tech giant also announced an additional investment of $1 million in the Kaivalya Education Foundation, to train 700,000 teachers. Online education training will be provided to teachers through this program. Google has already invested $12 million through Google.org into companies like TheTeacherApp, Pratham and Central Square Foundation to create content in local languages 

The company will also be investing $4.5 billion in Jio Platforms for an equity stake of 7.73%. Google has already empowered millions of Indians to access information and is a force for change and innovation. 

“I am excited that our joint collaboration will focus on increasing access for hundreds of millions of Indians who don’t currently own a smartphone while improving the mobile experience for all,” said Pichai on the partnership with Reliance Jio Platforms to create an affordable yet powerful smartphone ecosystem for the masses.