BJP recently unvelied its outlandish IT vision document in an effort to seek out voters for the impending elections. Some highlights of their so called IT vision:
- 12 million IT jobs in rural areas
- 10 million laptops at Rs 10000
- Broadband Internet in every town and village at less than Rs 200 per month
- All schools colleges to have Internet enabled education
- Unlimited VOIP access to everyone
You can read more of their great vision here.
For anyone who understands what the above means, I’m sure their first reaction is gonna be WTF !! The IT vision sounds more of a joke than a serious manifesto.
10 million laptops at 10K ? Broadband Internet in town and villages for less than 200/month ? VOIP access to everyone ?
Never mind that the current broadband penetration rate in urban India is still in the low single digits. Never mind that illiteracy is a bigger problem in rural areas. Never mind that more than 98% of the folks may not know what VOIP is.
(photo credit: punditkitchen.com)
And the party leader, L K Advani, seems to have gone on the tech offensive as well.
He has a blog, uses an iPhone and even launched an ad campaign via Google Adwords. He has a technology evangelist who’s an IIM A graduate.
So, what suddenly prompted Advani et. al to embrace new technology in an effort to seek out and connect with voters ?
Seems that the Advani camp has become inspired by Obama’s campagin and how well they tapped into new technology and the Internet to win voters. Undoubtedly, Advani seems to be taking a cue from Obama’s playbook.
But do they realize that the rules of the game arent the same ?
US has a significant Internet adoption, which helped the Obama campagin to become so successful. Internet in India is still an elite medium and adoption is prevalent only in the urban areas. Moreover, during Obama’s campaign, folks perceived the well spoken,young Obama to be really the carrier of change. Is the Internet campaign going to change people’s perception of Advani ? The way I see it, its still the old wine in a new bottle. Besides, the folks that Advani reaches out to via the Internet, have already a preconceived notion of Advani. So, I’m not sure how that’s gonna change, even if the attempt is to reach out young voters (main users of new technology).
What do you think about BJP and their crazy IT vision ?
My first reaction upon reading this post was WTF!! This sounds more like political bias than any intelligent critique. So you have a list of “never minds”. I’m curious to know what your idea of an IT vision should look like.
The BJP is the only party with at least a half-decent website and an IT vision. So what are you complaining about? Using the Internet as a medium of political campaign is a fact of our times. The Obama campaign was one of the case studies considered but not the only one.
Why should it matter that 98% of the folks do not know what VOIP is? It’s a base technology infrastructure on which services can be built. No user needs to know anything about it. Does every vegetable vendor with a mobile phone know anything about cellular networks? Heck, who cares how any of these technologies work, as long as we’re able to use it to improve our lives?
Regarding illiteracy in rural areas, are you saying that this should be solved 100% before any infrastructure and services can be rolled out? As one who has seen first-hand the potential of internet services in villages, I dismiss this as a pseudo-intellectual argument.
I also don’t understand the old wine in new bottle analogy. I mean, if you know anything about wine, if the wine is old, the age of the bottle is irrelevant. What exactly are you trying to say?
Finally, why do you ask your readers what they think about the “crazy IT vision” if you’ve already decided it’s crazy? I advice you a dose of introspection.
Mahesh,
This post or any other post for that matter is bound to have my bias — this is my blog.
However, I dont swear loyalty to any of the Indian political parties. So, the bias is just a subjective bias rather than based on a political bias.
I havent given it one ounce of thought of what my IT vision would be like — but I know one thing for sure — it will be sure much more practical and achievable than the BS that BJP is giving.
Just because BJP has a half decent website and an IT vision doesnt necessarily give it any edge over other parties. Or make it better than other parties for that matter. I dont care if they have a website or not — its their IT vision that I think is crap.
Did I in any words say that I want illiteracy problem solved 100% before any services are rolled out in rural areas ? Should the illiteracy problem get a higher priority over giving VOIP access ? Of course I think so. Providing access to Internet and other services can only do so much — that is, until Internet and related services completely support regional languages.
Why do I ask my readers what they think about the vision ? Simply because I’d like to know what they think about it and why. just because I think its stupid didnt make you think likewise now — did it ?
All in all, I think in your over-eagerness to make your point across, you seem to have missed the crux of it — BJP’s IT vision is BS because it is impractical, delusional and its unachievable and just a load of baloney — probably due to your political views or whatever, you might not agree. but thats ok..
What in particular do you think is crazy about this IT vision? Readers would appreciate if you specify reasons why you think it’s WTF.
In my opinion, it’s a very good start and something that needs to be supported without getiing politics in picture.
sunil,
look at the broadband penetration in the urban areas itself — over the last couple of years, the adoption has only marginally improved.
Hoping to provide broadband access to every town / village is not realistic — its just delusional.
Also, talks of providing voip access to everyone – claims like these are way too far stretched. even developed countries like US, UK havent accomplished that. considering India’s diversity in terms of geography etc., this is simply a too lofty a goal.
If you say ‘provide free voip access to everyone in the next 20 years’, I would still be ok with it. But if we are talking of one govt. term, I dont think it can be accomplished.
India has greater challenges that need to be tackled or given higher priority. Villages in maharashtra (I know first hand) face power cuts of 6-8 hours a day. Heck even a city like mumbai faces regular power cuts. Few villages recvd power connection only in the last cpl of years. Considering all this, the bigger goal should be to get the proper infrastructure in place first.
I think because you have Adsense ads plastered all around your website, you really shouldn’t speak ill of any Adwords advertiser.
Otherwise I’ll repeat myself. This blogger like many BJP baiter’s has decided to go after Advani for being ambitious. He argues that these goals are not realistically achievable.
Now are they? Would in the 80’s anybody believe you if you said India would become a technological powerhouse in 10-15 years? Indeed the media pundits were rpedicting the balkanization of India.
Personally I don’t mind the ambitious targets set, at least this document is better than the Caste, Reservation, Religion crap we get to hear on the MSM. But I would also like to see proper policy in place to achieve that. Policy that goes beyond the regular Reservations and Sachchar committee nonsense that we see floating around.
Hi Pranab,
Well theres nothing absurd or undoable stuff thats mentioned.
Ya its a revolutionary concept … but atleast if 50% is also implemented (ignore the 10000 Rs computer) it would do great no matter which political party brings the vision.
Do you think this is not possible ?
1) All schools colleges to have Internet enabled education
if not all , well 50%? what can be the barrier? cost? well govt has enough funds allocated for this.
infrastructure? BSNL is doing its job and am pretty sure they have the capacity.
2) 12 million IT jobs in rural areas .. . sounds absurd but when I gave it a thought… well thats too is possible only when we can seperate our idea of an IT job (typically that of MNCs) with the job I believe which is meant above.
A data entry job is also an IT job.. and if english speaking crowd is less in rural areas, that can be too countered with regional language enabled softwares by some Indian companies. and mouse clicks too.
I see immense possibility of IT in rural areas…it is 90% unexplored.
Give me investment and I will show you how it can boom.(if you can beat the govt policy to outsource software development to TCS and CMC)
3)Broadband Internet in every town and village at less than Rs 200 per month
Did we ever imagine that mobile can be so affordable that even a rickshaw puller can afford it? I am not talking about decades ago, but I still remember when I saw a mobile phone in a shelf…in the year 2000 and I used to think, its only for hi fi people who can afford that… and see now. what a revolution.
All because the providers knew the basic theory… profit based on numbers…
If Broadband can be given at 200Rs per month, (ofcourse it wont be unlimited downloads and stuffs) and if lakhs of connection is given, well it is a good gamble. Correct me if I am wrong.
4) 10 million laptops at Rs 10000
The framing this statement is wrong.
We have been hearing from quite a long time that laptops are going to come at 10k… well recently some college students came up with a comp which can be given at 10 k, well it might not support Windows Vista, nor you can play games, but it can support some basic features which will be required in rural areas as discussed above.It might be doing only what a computer was initially meant to…i.e. to compute. and thats what is required in the areas concerned … rather than a personal comp with all add on features.
and 10000? well at 20000 you get a good assembled computer. 10000 might not offer you lcd display, (need to stay happy with a black and white CRT)… but will it be a show stopper?
Infact govt can call for big companies to donate their ewaste, the obsolote computers which because of bonded items, cannot be sold outside and are dumped into godowns of the companies.
All these above is not to oppose you, or support any political party.
Well when it comes from any political party it creates a doubt in us that its just for getting votes.
but if our govt are really serious about this, we should welcome their move. These are not unrealistic plan.
politicians can do … is proved by Chandrababu Naidu…
Also you have mentioned that an IIMA graduate is helping Advani, I am sure these ideas must be from him and not from Advani.
If 50% of the proposed plan any govt can implement, India will be benefitted and will be blooming inspite of these recessions.
Cheers,
Satya
Finally, atleast some political party, is trying to influence educated elite class of indian voters. I look at it as a positive sign of change. If the educated people of India come together and act as a ‘vote bank’, I’m sure we can see some positive changes in the way politics is done here!
To be true to you all, I am not a politically inclined person… in fact I wouldn’t touch politics with a 100 meter stick… Not that I am mighty proud of it, but its just not my cup of tea! I think there people who are better in politics even if they are not politically better!
However, not degressing from the topic… reading the claims which one such party had made … I agree to some of people who have replied to the post… what might look a tad surreal from the first read, does look somewhat achievable when you burn a few mental calories over it…
For example: 200 Rs Broadband… WiMax anyone? We know its not an established technology and all a few others ‘blahs’ but, it is not insanely impossible either…! Supporting this allusion is the mobile phone example given by Satyarup… I remember staring at a half a kilo Nokia handset and thinking “Holy Sh*t, this is good stuff! Wish I had one” & now I do, well not a one that weighs half a kilo but close… ! :p
12 million IT jobs in rural areas… hmm, he hasn’t said anything about Project Managers or System Architects, has he?! IT job could be a service desk, a data entry station or a mix of the two… so yeah, I won’t complain even if this initiative helps a million odd youth chose the path of good, hard-earned money over drugs, extortion and mindless violence…
Speaking of him hiring an IIM graduate as his Man Friday for this proposal… I would say, its much better than being mentored by a 90 yr old religious fanatic guru with worrying intentions or a seasoned criminal turned political advisor by your side… isn’t it? Perhaps, these ideas ARE the brainchild of the IIM guy and he has put some thought behind it… maybe it just might work!
However, speaking of which… I really hope it does … cause we don’t another of those ‘I promised you a tap and you have the tap… who spoke of providing water?!” kind of a promise!
Pranav: To second Mahesh’s point of view, I too would suggest you need move from ‘What do you think about BJP and their crazy IT vision ?’ to ‘What do you think about BJP IT vision? Crazy or revolutionary?’ … Cause you see, it kills the fun of the debate when to lable it as a crazy, old wine new bottle (??) idea from the word go…
Standing by the ‘You know why? Cause, This is my blog..’ moto won’t really help the cause pal!
To quote a line from one my favorite movies (Spiderman): “With great power, comes great responsibility..”
I’ll leave a common reply here clarifying my stance so that I dont have to reply to each comment individually above.
I call the IT vision document BS because i think its impractical and unachievable in the near future. Although the intentions may be noble, I dont think this IT vision is going to solve India’s problems.
First, let me begin by asking – who will bear the expense of this great IT vision ? Broadband at 200, 10K laptops, free VOIP to everyone ? Unless its subsidized by the govt, such strides are unlikely to happen. Can you imagine the financial burden of making all this happen ? It would simply run into several billions of dollars (I’m talking on the higher end).
Now, lets come to the other aspect of it. Majority of the Indian population lives for under $2 a day. most pressing needs for a lot of Indians is being able to feed their family, provide a roof over the head and get access to clean water. Feel free to “dismiss this as a pseudo-intellectual argument” (as Mahesh does above), but this still remains a fact. Getting VOIP and broadband are not going to be the higher priority for these folks when their goal is simply to survive on a daily basis.
I wonder what’s next. A tata nano for 20K for all Indians ? Doesnt matter if you have the roads or can afford the petrol.
Optimism and hope are one thing. But delusion is something totally different.
Check out Atanu’s excellent analysis of the topic as well:
http://www.deeshaa.org/2009/03/16/bjps-it-for-all/
12 million IT jobs in rural areas – Achievable depending on what “IT Jobs” mean.
10 million laptops at Rs 10000 – Difficult to achieve. Partly depends on what that laptop will do.
Broadband Internet in every town and village at less than Rs 200 per month – BS. Let’s get the electricity to all the villages first of all.
All schools colleges to have Internet enabled education – BS, if that means ALL colleges and schools will have an Internet connection.
Unlimited VOIP access to everyone – BS. (doesn’t even need a clause)
+1 for deeshaa.org article!
Pranav, Regarding your Quote “Broadband at 200, 10K laptops, free VOIP to everyone ? Unless its subsidized by the govt, such strides are unlikely to happen.” – Ever thought 5 years ago that you can get Free Incoming for Life without paying a penny? Or for that matter, when Mobile was introduced, did anyone think that Outgoing rates will fall to few paise per minute (both Incoming and Outgoing were charged during those times).
Broadband already comes at 250, so what is so BS about getting it for 200. I feel that in a few years, you may get Free Basic Broadand. Heck, I even feel that sometime soon you may even get to see a Free Outgoing facility for Mobile phones (Ad based).
Point is technology is ever changing and no one knows how the future will unfold. While not everything can be done in 5 years, point is that it needs a vision to accomplish something. Its much better than thinking that since it cannot be achieved in 5 years, why the Fu*k should I even think about it.
Hi Pranav,
Please Find my comments in
Quote-
[ I call the IT vision document BS because i think its impractical and unachievable in the near future. Although the intentions may be noble, I dont think this IT vision is going to solve India’s problems.]
An IT vision document is not supposed to solve all of India’s Problem. It has a limited Scope (Only Related to IT and communication) and you should judge it for its scope.
Quote-
[First, let me begin by asking - who will bear the expense of this great IT vision ? Broadband at 200, 10K laptops, free VOIP to everyone ? Unless its subsidized by the govt, such strides are unlikely to happen. Can you imagine the financial burden of making all this happen ? It would simply run into several billions of dollars (I’m talking on the higher end).]
I am not able to imagine. Please help me to understand how you came up with Several Billions of Dollars number. I am from an industry where every statment you make should be supported with Data.
Qute-
[Now, lets come to the other aspect of it. Majority of the Indian population lives for under $2 a day. most pressing needs for a lot of Indians is being able to feed their family, provide a roof over the head and get access to clean water. Feel free to “dismiss this as a pseudo-intellectual argument” (as Mahesh does above), but this still remains a fact. Getting VOIP and broadband are not going to be the higher priority for these folks when their goal is simply to survive on a daily basis. ]
Again, the discussion should be with the scope of IT. Do not expect a Tea from Coffee pot. When you Open a Coffee pot, you will get coffee, if you get something else, then it is not a coffee pot.
Quote-
[I wonder what’s next. A tata nano for 20K for all Indians ? Doesnt matter if you have the roads or can afford the petrol. ]
I find two problem with statment.
1) Did you ever imagined a 1lac Car before Nano was launched.
2) How is this statment related to IT vision document.
Optimism and hope are one thing. But delusion is something totally different.
Just my $0.02
Is BJP Nuts? – http://www.makulabs.com/blog/is-bjp-nuts
Cheap election campaign..no comments
Nice Post! More like that!