Chhattisgarh govt to frame AI policy with focus on data privacy, responsible use

Raipur, Jul 1 (PTI) The Chhattisgarh government will formulate a state-level Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy with provisions for data security, protection of citizens’ privacy, regular technical audits and compliance with the Centre’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, officials said.

Officials gave this information during a review meeting of the state’s Electronics and Information Technology Department chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhavan in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Wednesday.

In the meeting, Sai reviewed the progress of various initiatives, including AI adoption, expansion of mobile networks, internet connectivity, the Seva Setu portal, e-Pragati PARAS (Project Assessment Review and Analysis System),

Centres of Excellence, data labs and other digital innovation projects, a government statement said.

Discussions also focused on skill development for youth, employment generation, strengthening the startup ecosystem and accelerating technology-driven governance, it said.

Addressing the meeting, Sai said Chhattisgarh has immense potential in the field of AI and has been moving rapidly towards becoming one of the country’s leading states in the sector, it said.

Artificial Intelligence is not just a technology of the future but an effective tool for enhancing good governance, transparency, efficiency and public service delivery. Its effective use can make governance more efficient, transparent, prompt and citizen-centric, Sai said.

The CM said the government’s objective was not merely to adopt new technology but also to prepare citizens for the AI era, improve business productivity, enhance people’s incomes and deliver better public services.

He said AI would be extensively used in education, healthcare, agriculture, skill development and day-to-day administration to directly benefit citizens, adding that the state would prioritise the development of a secure, reliable and responsible AI ecosystem.

The vision document presented by the officials at the meeting, stated that the state government aims to make Chhattisgarh a leading state in AI sector, where every citizen can learn the technology in their own language, government services become more technology-driven and industries receive a boost through innovation, the release said.

The AI mission will focus on five key pillars — AI skill development, innovation and startups, awareness and outreach, safe and responsible AI, and AI-enabled governance, it said.

Officials informed the meeting that a state-level AI policy would be framed to ensure data protection, safeguard citizens’ privacy, mandate regular technical audits and align state systems with the provisions of the DPDP Act, it said.

To promote AI-based governance, decision-support systems will be developed across government departments, department-specific AI roadmaps will be prepared, AI nodal officers will be appointed and pilot AI projects will be launched, it said.

The presentation by officials also outlined plans to train students and government employees in AI. AI awareness programmes, robotics clubs and hackathons will be introduced in schools, while colleges will offer AI certification courses, grants for student projects, AI laboratories in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Centres of Excellence in universities, it said.

To encourage innovation, the government will establish AI data labs, Centres of Excellence and provide support for AI-based startups, research projects and datasets. Plans for cloud computing infrastructure, seed funding and collaboration between industries and academic institutions to build a robust AI startup ecosystem were also discussed, officials said in the meeting.

Officials said in the meeting that nearly 1,000 mobile towers funded under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) scheme have been installed in the state over the past two-and-a-half years.

Besides, approval has also been received for 577 additional towers, of which land has already been allocated for 406, while the remaining cases are expected to be resolved within a month, they said.

Sai directed officials to ensure timely completion of all works to provide quality mobile and internet connectivity in remote and forested areas, it said.

During the review of BharatNet Phase-III, officials said 4,114 gram panchayats would be connected through a modern ring-topology network, along with the development of an IP-MPLS-based integrated network and expansion of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) services to improve internet access in rural areas.

Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel and senior officials were present in the meeting. PTI TKP NP