Tag: drones

EduConnect

Goa Expands ITKC Network to Empower Youth with Future-Ready Digital Skills

Tanisha Cardozo

Porvorim, August 07, 2025 – In a progressive move toward digital equity and future-readiness, the Government of Goa has announced the empanelment of new Information Technology Knowledge Centres (ITKCs) under the ST/SC Empowerment through ICT Scheme.

The initiative was launched by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Minister for ITE&C Rohan A. Khaunte at PAC Hall Secretariat, Porvorim, in the presence of top officials from the Info Tech Corporation of Goa Ltd. (ITG).

💡 Aimed at Building Careers, Not Just Skills

The newly empanelled ITKCs will now operate in six additional talukas: Bardez, Ponda, Salcete, Sanguem, Quepem, and Canacona.

These centres will offer over 33 foundational and advanced courses in high-demand domains such as:

  • Ethical Hacking
  • 3D Design
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Cyber Safety for Women
  • Robotics
  • Project Management
  • Basic Computer Literacy

Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant said,

“We aim to deepen digital access and provide structured skilling to empower SC and ST youth, helping them become self-reliant and career-ready.”

💻 Free Laptops and Drone Didi Initiative

The scheme goes further than training.

  • Free laptops will be provided to eligible EWS and OBC students pursuing engineering in Goa.
  • Goa also becomes the first state to focus on drone pilot training for women SHGs, aligned with the national Drone Didi scheme, promoting rural micro-entrepreneurship.

🌐 Building a Future-Ready Goa

Minister Rohan A. Khaunte stated,

“This is about inclusive tech. We’re not only creating jobs—we’re creating digital citizens who can lead innovation in their communities.”

The ITKCs are part of Goa’s broader citizen-first digital policy, aiming to build inclusive growth, equal opportunity, and a future-ready workforce.

TechPulse

Meghalaya Becomes India’s First State to Use Drones for Medicine Delivery to Remote Areas

allycaralgoa

Shillong, Meghalaya – July 2025: In a landmark move blending technology with public health, Meghalaya has emerged as the first Indian state to operationalize drone-based medicine delivery to remote and hard-to-reach healthcare centres across its hilly terrain.

Launched under a state-supported initiative in collaboration with private drone operators and public health authorities, the project is set to drastically reduce delivery times from several hours to mere minutes, ensuring faster access to critical supplies in rural and tribal areas.

“This is not just a technology upgrade—this is about saving lives,” said Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, speaking at the launch ceremony. “Villages once separated by hours of trekking or unreliable roads will now have life-saving medicines and vaccines delivered with unmatched speed.”

The drones are programmed to carry essential drugs, vaccines, diagnostic samples, and emergency supplies from district hospitals to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) nestled in the state’s forested hills and valleys.

Why it matters:

  • Some PHCs in Meghalaya required 6–8 hours of transport time by road or foot.
  • Now, drones complete the same trip in under 30 minutes.
  • This cuts delays in vaccination, maternal care, and emergency treatment.

Backed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and guided by the i-Drone initiative of the Indian government, the program is expected to expand to cover more regions within the state and inspire similar models across the country.

Experts in both the tech and public health sectors have hailed the move as a game-changer for India’s rural healthcare delivery system—especially in geographies like the Northeast, where natural barriers often hinder supply chains.