India to set up internet info centre on democracy: PM

PM today announced that India would soon establish a virtual centre on the Internet for providing information on democracy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday announced that India would soon establish a virtual centre on the Internet for providing information on democracy and a forum for exchange of experience.

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"We intend to harness new and innovative technologies, including distance learning and satellite networks in the endeavour," Singh said adding, India would welcome partners in the initiative.

He was speaking at the launch of UN Democracy Fund along with American President George W Bush on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the world body.

Stressing that globalisation is bringing new opportunities each day in the quest to overcome the age-old challenges of poverty, ignorance and disease, Singh called for ensuring that its relentless advance does not leave in its wake large pools of dispossessed and that the voiceless are empowered.

"Only democracy can ensure that they, too, become stakeholders in a millennium of peace and prosperity that we, in the United Nations, seek to accomplish," he added.

Talking about India's rich democratic heritage, Singh said democracy alone gives the assurance that development aspirations of the poorest citizens of the society would be taken into consideration.

"This is the strength of a democratic system," he added.