Assam, a North-eastern state of India, is a region rich in culture and biodiversity. In recent years, it has been taking steps to leverage technology to promote development and progress in the region. The vision of Assam in IT development and Digital Assam by 2026 is an ambitious goal that seeks to transform the state into a technology-driven society, which includes the 100% implementation of the National Education Policy, setting up a Centre for Data Management, and creating an IT-enabled governance system In this article, we will discuss the initiatives taken by the government and private sector to achieve this goal.
Assam is home to a vibrant startup ecosystem with several incubation centres and accelerator programs. The government has launched several schemes and policies to support startups and encourage entrepreneurship. The Startup Assam initiative aims to create a startup-friendly ecosystem and provide support to startups in the form of funding, mentoring, and infrastructure.
One of the key initiatives taken by the government is the ‘Digital Assam’ program, which aims to transform Assam into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The program has been launched with the objective of providing access to digital services to every citizen of Assam, regardless of their location or socio-economic status.
Under the Digital Assam program, the government has implemented several initiatives, including the Digital Village Scheme, which aims to provide access to digital services and connectivity to the rural population of Assam. The scheme has been successful in providing internet connectivity to over 1,000 villages in the state.
Another significant initiative under the Digital Assam program is the ‘Assam One’ portal, which provides citizens with access to various government services online. The portal offers a range of services, including e-governance services, online payments, and digital certificates.
Apart from these initiatives, the government is also promoting the development of IT parks and technology hubs in the state. The Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE) program aims to promote the development of technology startups and create employment opportunities in the IT sector.
The private sector has also been actively contributing to the development of the IT sector in Assam. Several IT companies have set up their operations in the state, creating job opportunities for the local population. The state’s proximity to Southeast Asia and its strategic location make it an attractive destination for IT companies looking to expand their operations in the region.
The vision of the IT Policy is to plan, develop and market the state as one of the most preferred IT/ ITES/Electronics investment and business destinations in India through good governance, effective use of the talent pool, skill enhancement, promotion of innovation & future technologies, and creation of excellent infrastructure.
To achieve this vision State requires the collective efforts of the government, private sector, and citizens. While the government has taken significant steps to promote IT development and digitalization, there is still a long way to go. To achieve this goal, it is essential to ensure that all citizens of Assam have access to digital services and infrastructure. This requires the development of a robust and reliable digital infrastructure, which can support the growing demands of the IT sector.
The aim of the IT, ITES Sector Skill council is to collaborate with the state of Assam to provide all support to the state in Talent and Skill building in IT which will help in creating the state as a preferred destination
The aim of the IT, ITES Sector Skill council is to collaborate with the state of Assam to provide all support to the state in Talent and Skill building in IT which will help in creating the state as a preferred destination. The program is aimed to empower youth with training programs to improve their learning and thus creating employment opportunities, space, and scope for the development of talents within the state:
The program is divided into three parts:
I. Digital Skill building for core job roles.
II. NEP 2020 Implementation – Digital Skill building for Emerging Technology adoption.
III. Digital Skilling for Govt Employees of the state.
IT,ITEs Sector skill council offers to use FutureSkills Prime platform at the state to build the required talent pool. This is a national digital skilling platform aiming to skill, reskill and upskill the nation on the latest emerging technologies, thereby contributing to the country’s vast technology workforce. The platform is designed as a resource for all learners to develop digital fluency on new-age technologies and build advanced skills by getting certified on industry defined and SSC NASSCOM-validated skills on both emerging technologies and professional skills.
The state government has established the upcoming Assam Skill University at Mangaldai, Darrang, with an objective to provide skill education to the youth of India, particularly in the northeastern region. The university is expected to be ready by September 2026 and has sought international alliances to become a sector-specific university.
In conclusion, the vision of Assam in IT development and Digital Assam by 2026 is an ambitious goal that has the potential to transform the state into a technology-driven society and digitally empowered state that has Skilled workforce, good governance and a robust IT Infrastructure.
The government and private sector have taken significant steps to promote IT development and digitalization in the state. However, to achieve this goal, it is essential to ensure that all citizens of Assam have access to digital services and infrastructure. With collective efforts and sustained focus, Assam can achieve its vision of becoming a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. These efforts are expected to result in making Assam one of the most preferred IT/ITES/Electronics investment and business destinations in India.