American academicians support PM Narendra Modi's Digital India initiative

MUMBAI, INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India initiative now has support from American academicians.

Days before the PM’s visit to the US, about 150 American academicians pledged support to the Digital India campaign.

Signatories include holders of prestigious endowed professorships, deans of schools and educators in engineering, medicine, business and the humanities from prestigious institutions in the US.

"We, the undersigned, as faculty representing diverse disciplines in the American academy, join fellow Americans in welcoming India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to California's Silicon Valley on his inaugural visit there September 26-27, 2015," the letter said.

"We welcome, Prime Minister Modi's support for the Digital India initiative that heralds a new age of participatory democracy and enhances transparency in governance, leveling the playing field for vast numbers of India's citizens," more than 150 American academicians said in a statement.

"We are encouraged by reports that 170 million new bank accounts have opened, accompanied by government-backed catastrophic insurance, bringing hope to the neediest in India. Tying these accounts into the Aadhar identity document program could give many citizens their first clear symbol of empowerment," the statement said.

"We believe that partnerships in Silicon Valley and knowledge exchange with the American academy have the potential to offer solutions in educational entrepreneurship necessary to reach and inspire those 356 million young Indians and prepare them for the 21st century," the letter said.