To find working solutions for mitigating the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) started a 48- hour ‘hackathon' on Friday.
The official said that ‘hackathon' is being organised to explore the use of next-generation technologies and innovative solutions for strengthening the existing solutions to fight Coronavirus.
MeitY said that the winning ideas and implementable solutions from top participating teams are expected to help India and global citizen in their fight with COVID-19.
The hackathon was digitally inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, Communications and Human Resource Development Sanjay Dhotre. While inaugurating the program, the minister emphasised that coronavirus has thrown unprecedented challenges for the world and industries alike and such a testing innovative solutions are needed to help the country.
“While we continue to fight these challenges as a nation, amidst business disruptions and remote working scenarios, it is important for all including governments, industry and individuals to contribute with all its might to overcome the present and emerge stronger as humanity,” Dhotre said.
On the role of social distancing, the minister stressed that he has the strong conviction that in an era where social distancing has become the new normal, digital solutions and products will reconnect the human race and thereby contribute to the economic recovery.
The government said that over 2,000 teams and over 15,000 participants are participating in the 48-hour hackathon with expert mentoring from India, Estonia and Finland.