Srinagar: Webinar on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was organised by The Institution of Engineers (India), J&K State Centre, Srinagar, in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, Dept. of Telecom, J&K LSA, Ministry of Communications, Govt. of India, SSM College of Engineering & Technology, Parihaspora, Pattan, National Informatics Centre-J&K and State Emergency Operation Centre, Srinagar. The theme for the webinar was Accelerating Digital Transformation in Challenging Times. The Chief Guest was Dr. Kailash Chandra Panday, Senior Deputy Director General, Department of Telecom, Ministry of Communications, Govt of India. Major General Manoj Kumar Bindal, Executive Director, National Institute of Disaster Management delivered the keynote address.
The Chief Guest Dr Kailash Chander Pandey said that digital technology plays the most important role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. He said that digital transformation has created a value system and improved efficiency. It has helped in creating transparency and capacity development. He said that a digitally empowered society is the aim of the Govt and it can bring about socio-economic transformation in India. He said that Artificial Intelligence can assist the Administrators in Decision-making. He said that the officers in the field need to ensure that there is no digital divide which can be an impediment and bottleneck, while implementing various policies of the Govt.
Maj Gen Bindal said that the pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation process due to the challenging times and helped improve our efficiency. He said that the current difficult pandemic situation has accelerated different digital communication technologies for our benefit. He said that the protocols and procedures will keep changing and digital transformation will usher in a culture of transparency, by enhancing efficiently and effectiveness. He said that the use of technology has helped improve the quality of life and human well-being and is being used by different stakeholders, for achieving the defined Sustainable Development goals. He said that the global perspective has brought all the stakeholders together for effective use of technology to highlight the strengths and weaknesses, identify the issues and raise awareness. He congratulated the Institution of Engineers, J&K State Centre and NIDM team for holding webinars on various important topics and suggested that there is need to formalize the relationship with the two Institutions, by inking of an MOU, to continue the joint effort in future, as well.
Er. Narendra Singh, President, Institution of Engineers (India) conveyed his message for the success of the Webinar. The Resource Persons were Er. Radhey Shyam Parmar, Dy. Director General, Dept of Telecom, J&K LSA, Er Mohammed Saleem Khan Scientist “F”, Additional State Informatics Officer-J&K, Er. Syed Irfan Yaqoob, Asst. Professor, SSM College of Engineering, Parihaspora and Sandeep Baruah, Scientist “F”, Vigyan Prasar, Ministry of Science and Technology Govt of India. The coordinators for the Webinar were Er. Aamir Ali Mir, Chairman IEI J&KSC and Dr. Amir A. Khan, Faculty NIDM. The programme was moderated by Er. M. Aaquib Sultana Waheed Deva, Honorary Secretary IEI J&KSC, Ms. Yogita Garbyal Young Professional NIDM, Mohmmed Suhail Wani and Bilquees Dar, Consultants Disaster Management.
The Webinar was attended by over 200 participants from across the Globe, Council Members of IEI, Corporate Members of JKSC, students and staff from SSM College of Engineering and National Institute of Technology, (NIT) Srinagar and Officers and Staff of Emergency Operation Centre, Srinagar, besides Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) of J&K, including BSNL, Airtel, Reliance-Jio, Vodaphon.
Er. Aamir Ali said that the World Telecom Day is celebrated every year on 17th May to mark the founding of the International Telecommunication Union and signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865. He said that COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted lives across the Globe and thrown unprecedented challenges to existing systems, including public health delivery systems and livelihood of the majority of the population. He said that Coronavirus is killing lakhs of people every day and people have been forced to learn new norms of COVID protocol i.e. social distancing, face masks, hand washing, quarantine, lockdowns, work-from-home, virtual meetings, cloud conferencing, webinars etc. He said that Telecommunication and Digital Transformation is helping in managing crucial data on fatalities, diagnosis, treatment of patients, managing distribution of vaccines or medicines and even disseminating government policies and SOPs. Dr Amir Ali Khan, Faculty NIDM said that use of social media has revolutionized our lives, ICT tools are an important and integral part of Smart City concept. He deliberated on the advantages of ICT tools. Er Radhey Shyam Parmar said that telecom and digital transformation is linked with every sphere of life. He said that Fiber optics are the most reliable medium and effective tool for accelerating the digital transformation. Er Mohd Saleem Khan spoke about various programmes and activities launched by the National Informatics Centre and how these have been integrated in COVID-response. Dr Syed Irfan Yaqoob explained the meaning of Digital Transformation as a technology. Sandeep Baruah, gave a practical demonstration of operation of a HAM Radio and explained the procedure for obtaining an Amateur radio License.

KR Desk