Official Launch of e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti Project by External Affairs Minister (October 09, 2019)
October 09, 2019
- External Affairs Minister of India Dr S. Jaishankar formally launched the e-VidyaBharti(Tele-education) and e-ArogyaBharti(Tele-medicine) Project (e-VBAB) on 7th October 2019. The event was attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan,
Minister of State for Defence Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Heads of Missions, members of diplomatic corps, senior officials from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, University Grants Commission, M/s TCIL, National
Institute of Smart Governance, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and representatives from Indian educational and healthcare institutions.
- Minister of External Affairs unveiled the tele-education portal www.iLearn.gov.in, which provides access for African students to over 500 courses in various disciplines including engineering and technology, education, mathematics and sciences, education,
humanities and arts and teacher training. The portal would also offer 15000 scholarships to Africans to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses from premier public and private Universities of India. The official logo of e-VBAB project was also unveiled
at the ceremony.
- Speaking at the event, External Affairs Minister stated that e-VBAB was one of the largest projects being executed by this Ministry. He further stated that the project will enable African students to access premier Indian education through the comforts
of their homes and offer Indian medical expertise to African doctors and patients alike. Minister of State also addressed the event and said that e-VBAB initiative follows from Hon’ble PM’s commitments made at the Third India Africa Forum Summit, which was
the most successful summit in the history of India-Africa relations.
- It may be noted that the implementation of e-VBAB project has been expedited, after its inclusion as part of 100 days program of the Government. Building on the success of Phase-1 of Pan-Africa e-Network project, e-VBAB has been well received by African
countries. Memorandum of Understanding have been signed by M/s TCIL, the implementing agency with Benin, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Republic of Guinea, Zambia, Sudan, and Uganda. The pilot
project in Ghana, in collaboration with India-Ghana Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in Information, Communication and Technology has received enthusiastic participation from learners in traditional as well as emerging fields like big data and artificial intelligence.
- e-VBAB project offers tele-medicine and continuing medical education for African doctors, paramedics and patients. These services will be provided by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Center
for Development of Advanced Computing and other stakeholders.
- The e-VBAB Network Project will be completely funded by the Government of India for its entire duration and will be open for participation to all our partner countries in Africa. The Project is an important milestone in our development partnership with
Africa and seeks to equip African youth to meet the challenges of the 21st century knowledge economy.
New Delhi
October 09, 2019