Three Models For Spreading Multilingual Technology

In multilingual and multimedia

computerization projects, information technology, particularly multimedia information

technology, provides a double advantage. Firstly, messages can be conveyed even to

illiterate people because of the multimedia means of communication and secondly, this very

format information technology can be a very powerful instrument for fighting illiteracy

and achieving the goal of total literacy, say, within a period of 5 years.

How do we convert these

successful cases into a national program for improvement? Here, I would suggest that we

should have a grand strategy for such projects. Based on Indian experience, I would

suggest three models.

The first is the green

revolution model, where India from being a country importing grains, transformed into a

country not only self sufficient in food grains, but also exporting them. This was

achieved because the technology of hybrid seeds was available and thousands of

demonstration farms were organized as an effort at extension. On acceptance of the new

techniques by the farmers, the government provided inputs like hybrid seeds, irrigated

water, fertilizers and pesticides. And the result came in terms of bumper crops, and then

a price support mechanism was developed. That was how the green revolution was brought.

We can adopt a similar model

for multilingual and multimedia information technology.We can have thousands of

demonstrations IT applications. What is required is that successful cases like Andhra

Pradesh can be replicated all over the country. For this, states like Andhra, which have

succeeded, should adopt a generous attitude and help other states on the technology path.

A dose of generosity is called for if we want to get the advantage of synergy and rapid

spreading of IT in the public interest.

The second model is the white

revolution model. Operation Flood and milk revolution brought by Dr Kurien and the

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) have made India the largest milk producer in the

world today. This was possible because there was a surplus input available in terms of

milk powder and an organizational tool available in terms of effective cooperative

movement. We can therefore think in terms of suitable organizational structure for

spreading multimedia and multilingual information technology throughout the country. For

designing successful and effective national programs, I would suggest we should adopt the

well-known principle of enlightened self-interest as our basis. For instance, we can take

up the issue of the education in a massive way and total literacy applying computers.

But we must not forget that

among the 75,000 high schools and six lakh primary schools, hardly 5% to 10% of the

institutions will be in the English medium. The rest of the students study in the medium

of Indian languages. Most of the content today is in English. We will have to think of

creating massive content in Indian languages which can be accessed through computers. We

will, therefore, have to undertake a massive program involving the private sector for

putting on the computer whatever educational material is today available on paper. This

can be done by diverting the funds available under various employment generation schemes

like Jawahar Rojgar Yojana, the Prime Minister's Yojana program and integrated rural

development programs to engage unemployed youth for loading this content in the computers.

We will create in the process lakhs of jobs for the next three years or so.

The third model for a national

program would be the nuclear chain reaction model. We know from nuclear physics that so

long as the critical mass is not reached, we are not going to have a chain reaction. We

should, therefore, think in terms of successful application of IT to improve citizens'

welfare. In the context of school computerization, I had some suggestions. Perhaps they

can be applied in other areas also. So that this multimedia, multilingual information

technology can be utilized for public interest through national programs.

N Vittal,



ex-Secretary, DoE and DoT,



is currently the Chief Vigilance Commissioner,


Government of India.

Excerpted from N Vittal's

keynote speech at the SAARC Multilingual Conference'98