‘Use technology to provide equal opportunity to all’

SHILLONG: Member of Central Administrative Tribunal, Guwahati Bench, Md Haleem Khan delivered a talk on Public Administration- Knowledge Economy and Inclusive Governance organised by the Meghalaya Institute of Governance at the State Convention Centre here on Saturday. The talk was chaired by ICARE president Toki Blah.
Making his presentation, Khan underscored the need for governance to ensure that economic development is inclusive. He suggested that the government should leapfrog the infrastructure gaps by using technology to create last mile broadband services.
“The cyber highway is the equalizer and inclusive governance should provide every individual with the opportunity to excel. Barriers to Communication need to be removed. Language and communication skills need to be improved to access the best resources globally across the world. To do this, we need to create an environment for everyone to grow together,” he said.
He also spoke about the “Economic Model Timeline”, the knowledge economy benefits, the governance models and the empowerment context where, in an enlightened society, each and every individual is capable of producing goods and services that can be sold in the market.
“We need to create a system that allows an individual to satisfy his propensity to excel. The purpose to be served by government is to create an environment that allows this on a sustainable basis through public intervention and government systems. This is the third dimension to government administration,” he added.
Lastly, he queried, as to how to nurture an environment where a society begins to interact with each one on the basis of everyone’s abilities, strengths and recognising aspiration and achievements without the spirit of one-upmanship.