R Chandrashekhar, former secretary, Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and a former president NASSCOM has been appointed as the first chairman of Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association’s (TEMA) Council on Digital Empowerment.
The TEMA board has approved his appointment. He is currently chairman of the Centre for The Digital Future.
On this occasion, Chandrashekhar, chairman, TEMA – Centre for The Digital Future, said, “India is racing towards a digital future. There are many stakeholders involved – technology users, providers, entrepreneurs, Government, NGOs and researchers. I feel privileged to chair the Digital Empowerment Council of TEMA with so many illustrious members drawn from all these communities. I hope the Council will be an effective channel for industry and civil society to share their perspectives and suggestions on how to ensure that India’s digital future is inclusive and empowering for all.”
Further, Ravi Sharma, chairman TEMA, said “The digital empowerment needs coordinated efforts for internet, mobile connectivity, artificial intelligence, M2M and financial arrangements. TEMA is committed to play a key role in fulfilling the vision of our Prime Minister. We are sure with a highly experienced, motivated and energetic personality like Chandrashekhar taking the lead; TEMA will bring enormous value addition and would aim for helping stakeholders to make India soon a digitally empowered nation.”
Meanwhile, NK Goyal, chairman emeritus, TEMA, said “Digital inclusion is the key to India’s economic growth. Chandrashekhar is the best mind to suggest. His experience in the Government and the private sector will provide a 360-degree view of the challenges and the way ahead. I am confident that his academic rigour and expertise in the sector will help in the development of cyber-safe digital payments.”
Chandrashekhar, held several key assignments relating to the ICT sector, both in the government of India and the state government of Andhra Pradesh. He has extensive experience in formulating and implementing policies, strategies and action plan to foster the growth of the IT sector covering the entire enabling ecosystem including infrastructure, human resource development, e-governance and establishing Public-Private Partnerships. Earlier, he established as secretary, the first Department of Information Technology in the country in Andhra Pradesh. The policies and strategies he formulated catapulted the state to the forefront of the country in the sector and became a role model for several states and countries.
Chandrashekhar, M.Sc. in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and has an MS degree in Computer Science from the Pennsylvania State University, USA. He was conferred the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration. He was conferred the Distinguished Alumnus award of IIT-Mumbai in 2010.
