Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said Internet subscribers may reach the 50 crore mark in the country next year. Speaking in a programme on Integration of SC/ST entrepreneurs in New Delhi ,Mr Prasad said India currently has 40 crore Internet subscribers . Speaking about the Digital India programme, he said the government will connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats with optic fiber in coming years. <br/><br/>He also spoke on the concept of digital village, where one block in every state will be selected to ensure that technology can be used to deliver education and healthcare services. He added that under digital village, the focus will be upon e-education, telemedicine having linkage of primary health centres with district hospital, resource centre as a virtual classroom including training in all gap areas and LED light at the centre of village along with wi-fi.

Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said Internet subscribers may reach the 50 crore mark in the country next year. Speaking in a programme on Integration of SC/ST entrepreneurs in New Delhi, Mr Prasad said India currently has 40 crore Internet subscribers and within two years the government will meet the target. Speaking about the Digital India programme, he said the government will connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats with optic fiber in coming years. <br/><br/>He also spoke on the concept of digital village, where one block in every state will be selected to ensure that technology can be used to deliver education and healthcare services. He added that under digital village, the focus will be upon e-education, telemedicine having linkage of primary health centres with district hospital, resource centre as a virtual classroom including training in all gap areas and LED light at the centre of village along with wi-fi.