Guwahati: Google and the Assam government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday in order to support and expedite the mission to promote digital growth and development in the state.
As part of this new initiative, Google will work with the Assam Government’s Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department (SEED) to strengthen school digitization efforts with digital tools and solutions to support teaching and learning, as well as to promote the fundamentals of online safety and digital citizenship to schoolchildren through the “Be Internet Awesome” programme.
Google will work with the Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) to offer Google Career Certificates to young people in Assam along with providing scholarships.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “I applaud Google for its steadfast support and dedication to Assam over the years, and for supporting our efforts to promote digital literacy across communities. In order to modernise Assam and make its economy one of the nation’s top development drivers, digitally led technology and governance are the cornerstones of our vision. We are excited to work with Google to expand skill-building opportunities and provide the greatest digital tools and technology to classrooms across the State. These programmes will significantly improve our children’s and youth’s ability to gain crucial skills and access more job and career opportunities.”
Elaborating on the MoU, Sanjay Gupta, Country Head & Vice President, Google India, said, “This MOU is another step in our long collaboration with the Assam government to bring the benefits of digital tools and technology to communities across the State, and to assist its mission for technology-driven holistic development. We are pleased to support the Assam government in its most recent endeavor to thoughtfully integrate digital technologies into classrooms, modernizing education for the next generation, while also building awareness about online safety so children can reap the benefits of the internet. We look forward to working together as we accelerate digital adoption and unlock the value of the internet for children and youth, setting them on a path of growth and equipping them with essential training and skill-sets to succeed in the fast growing digital economy of India.”