National Knowledge Network gets nod

The Central government has accorded in-principle approval to the establishment of a National Knowledge Network to connect libraries, hospitals, scientific and research institutions, universities and agricultural institutions across the country.

"The government has approved the National Knowledge Commission's recommendations in this regard," Sam Pitroda, chairman of the commission, told reporters here today.

The network, comprising 5,000 nodes with one gigabyte facility to interconnect the institutions, is expected to cost around one billion dollars, he said. The idea behind this network, expected to fructify within the next year, is to create "an infrastructure of tomorrow" to ensure maximum use of convergence of technology, Pitroda said.

According to him, ownership of this network should not rest with the government. "The government must fund but not necessarily own the network. We want to create a SPV for this network."

Pitroda also pointed to the emerging shortage of skills in the economy. "We are not graduating enough students, both technical and non-technical. We have to focus on this aspect as well as on primary education, otherwise we can't deliver the kind of growth we want," he warned.

Knowledge initiatives, he said, should begin immediately. "They will give results after 20-25 years", he said, comparing it to the telecom revolution "which took 20 years to be visible."

Calling for participation of local communities in the development of libraries, of which there are around 50,000 in the country, Pitroda said public-private-partnerships (PPPs) could also go a long way in developing them.

"They (libraries) need help, more funding, modernisation, restructuring and local participation. The government does not have the money or vision to build libraries. This has to be achieved through local participation and PPPs are needed for this," he said.

Pitroda said massive reforms were needed in the education system.

"Education needs multi-disciplinary approaches and course content needs to be flexible," he said. Pitroda said fibre networks already in existence could be used for connectivity across the country.

"We only need some equipment to upgrade them," he said. Pointing out that there are about 10 separate networks being planned, he said their consolidation was necessary. "We don't want multiple networks," he said.