In an attempt to advance the concept of digital inclusion, the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently launched the 'BhashaNet Portal'.

The portal was launched at the Universal Acceptance (UA) Day event. The event took under the auspices of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

As in the course of the event, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeiTY, highlighted that the access to internet should be also made available to non-English speakers. He also emphasised that India holds great potential in achieving the standards of universal acceptance.

The event also included engaging panel discussions and workshops with representatives from Bhashini, ONDC, Microsoft and sharing insights for accepting universal standards of digital connectivity. These sessions aimed at empowering participants to participate fully and make the accessibility universal everywhere.

Set up on June 19, 2023, the NIXI is instructed to increase Internet penetration by facilitating infrastructure aspects to enable creating an ecosystem of digital connectivity and a platform that can be both managed and accessed by its users.

It also offers IXPs towards building Internet Exchange Points and building domain digital identity and extending data storage and data centre services.

It was added that government holds pride in the fact that these initiatives shall foster deep connectivity between users with a truly multilingual Internet. It has been emphasized regarding the creation of a world where language is not a barrier to online access.

Universal Acceptance ensures that all domain names including the eminent ones and Internationalised Domain Names and email addresses are treated equally and can be used by all Internet-based applications. BhashaNet portal is one such step itself. The portal is developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing with support of the National Internet Exchange of India.

Initiatives such as these shall help building a digital space that shall transcend the boundaries of language, region and culture and in letter and spirit shall uphold the idea of cultural diversity. Similarly, the extension of equal data facilities across different users and companies, it also attempts to bridge the 'digital divide' and foster a space that calls for the inclusion of all sections of society with respect to technological development. Catering to users in their native languages promotes inclusivity and enhances accessibility.

Themed 'BhashaNet: Impetus Towards Universal Acceptance' leveraging the idea that technology should collaborate to meet the needs of every user regardless of language or script.

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References:

• thestatesman.com
• newsonair.gov.in
• ddnews.gov.in