Nara Lokesh receives Dr. Kalam Innovation in Governance Award 2018

New Delhi [India], Jan. 20 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Information Technology (IT) Minister Nara Lokesh was felicitated with Dr. Kalam Innovation in Governance Award 2018 here at the Dr. Kalam Centre on Saturday evening.

In his acceptance speech, Nara Lokesh said, "This award is a testimony and a token of encouragement to work harder for the development of Andhra Pradesh. Post-bifurcation, as a young state, Andhra has faced a lot of challenges but our Chief Minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu gave a clear vision that Andhra has to be among top three states in India by 2022 and be the best state in terms of happiness index by 2029 and be the best destination in the world by 2050."

Nara Lokesh outlined a number of innovative initiatives that the Andhra Pradesh Government is taking to improve its governance.

One example was the Praja Sadhikara Survey, which was being conducted across the state, where Aadhaar linked database serves as a single source of truth for the administration and governance.

"We have a core dashboard that is used to track all the departments in real-time including the time in which each file is being cleared by the ministers and officials. In this way, we are using real-time governance and latest technologies in improving our governance", he added.

Lokesh stated that to attain smart governance, RFID cards are being used to track rural garbage collection. To test the quality of water in overhead tanks in real-time in villages, Internet of Things (IoT) is being used.

On being asked about the launch of the high-speed internet recently, Lokesh added: "Through AP Fibernet, we are providing internet, television and telephony services at as low as Rs. 149 per month. We have also partnered with Google X to take the internet to the remote parts of the state through their latest technology."

The award was presented by Rajya Sabha Secretary-General Desh Deepak Verma during the second edition of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Summit on innovation in governance. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI