Google & TS Govt enter into MOU to support Telangana’s digital initiatives

New Delhi, March 3 (Maxim News): Google India and the Government of Telangana here on Friday announced signing of an MOU to support the digitization efforts in the state. The announcement was made after a meeting between K.T. Rama Rao, Cabinet Minister for IT E&C, MAUD, Industries & Commerce, Mines & Geology, Public Enterprises and NRI Affairs, and Google India representatives.

Google India will provide Google Cloud credits and access to all cloud platform products to eligible startups engaged with Telangana government’s T-Hub initiative and through its Developer Relations team provide technical mentorship and advisory support to various startups.

Other initiatives as part of the agreement include: Make all government sites mobile friendly and introduce programs to help local small and medium businesses get online and stay safe online; Google India will introduce Android Fundamentals courses for students pursuing B.Tech/BE & MCA to skill them on mobile app development. Additionally Google as part of Google Cultural Institute project will work with the Culture and Tourism Department of the state to create a digital repository of the architectural and cultural heritage of the state, its history and imagery and make it accessible globally.

As part of the MOU, Google India and the Government of Telangana will work on promoting digital literacy among rural women in Telangana through the ‘Internet Saathi’ program. The program will start by training women trainers identified from Self Help Groups and Women’s federations which are overseen and facilitated by Tata Trusts through its field partners on ground. These master trainers called “Saathis” will then train more women in their own and neighbouring villages

Speaking after the meeting, Chetan Krishnaswamy, Director- Public Policy, Google India said “We are delighted to support the Government of Telangana in its vision of a digitally empowered State. We look forward to working with the state government to create an enabling environment and ecosystem to help women, students, small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs to realize the full potential of the Internet and the opportunities it offers.”

“We would like to thank Hon’ble Minister K.T. Rama Rao for his support for this agreement and are committed to work towards the aim of Digitizing Telangana,” he added.

K.T. Rama Rao said “Google is a valuable partner of the state of Telangana and we are excited to launch many initiatives with them that will benefit women, small businesses, youth, and others across our state. Our mission is to Digitize Telangana and a partnership with Google will go a long way in ensuring our plans under the Digitize Telangana program are achieved.” (Maxim News)