KG Kenye (Morung File Photo)
Lone Nagaland Rajya Sabha MP addresses World Forum 4.0
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 20
“There is immense potential in Technology to secure Development, generate Employment, raise Income Levels and improve the quality of Life for our citizens,” Nagaland’s Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) KG Kenye stated today.
Kenye was addressing the ongoing World Forum 4.0 virtually from Kohima on October 20.
“When we think of the Fourth Industrial Revolution we think of the G-20 Osaka Leaders' Declaration of 29th June 2019. It talks about sharing of good practices on effective policy and regulatory approaches and frameworks that are innovative as well as agile, flexible and adapted to the digital Era including the use of regulatory sandboxes,” he said.
As a policymaker, Kenye informed, he was a Member of the National Committee on Information Technology of the Government of India, and its focus was to try to leverage advancements in technology to provide basic goods and services to our peoples.
He noted with appreciation that the Government of India has recently approved "high speed broadband Internet" connection for 16 States in India including in the State of Nagaland.
Over three hundred and sixty thousand villages across India will be covered initially and the budget has been approved for viability gap funding. It will enable access to Online Education, Telemedicine, Skill Development and E-Commerce in our villages, he said.
As the world tries to recuperate from COVID-19, it is interesting to see how the pandemic has pushed organizations over the technology tipping point—and transformed business and processes forever, Kenye said.
“We have to be careful that the past inequalities of the labor Market are not reproduced in Information Economy. A McKinsey survey last year found out that responses to COVID-19 have speeded the adoption of digital technologies and these changes will be there for the long haul.”
As policymakers, the MP said that the response must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders of the Global polity from the governments, public and private sectors to Academia and civil society.
“We have to reaffirm the importance of bridging the Digital divide and fostering the adoption of digitalization. A focus on the Developing and the least Developed Countries should be our priority. It has to benefit our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, not to mention individuals particularly vulnerable groups while encouraging networking and experience sharing. The issue of promoting security in the digital economy and of addressing security gaps and vulnerabilities cannot be neglected by the policymakers and International community,” he said.
No doubt the scale, scope and complexity of the transformation ushered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution will be unlike anything mankind has ever experienced before. But we have to make sure that the change is Human-centric, Humane and towards the betterment of the societies, nations and most importantly our Environment, he said.
Kenye said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is merely a medium to fulfill our aspiration for a better world which is Just, Peaceful, Prosperous and Equitable for the future generation.
And we who have gathered here from far shores at the World Forum are the Agents of change for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
As responsible citizens of the world we have to be the very Agents of the change that we wish to see and I am sure the change is a positive one to benefit mankind, he said.
Kenye also expressed his appreciation to President Leonel Fernandez and the team of World Forum 4.0 that made this year's World Forum possible to discuss the impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution amidst the shadows of COVID-19.
Further, he also extended invitation all attendees to visit Nagaland and the North Eastern States of India, a region of immense natural beauty and of warm hospitality.
The WF4.0 is an international forum of experts, political leaders, CEOs, managers, governments, companies and organisations linked to the fourth industrial revolution.
