Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth's letter asks government departments to internalise the use of space technology. Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth's letter asks government departments to internalise the use of space technology.

Driving home the message to take the Narendra Modi government's Digital India campaign seriously, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth has shot off a letter to all ministries directing them to "firm up" concrete "action plans" for the use of space technology.

The letter sent towards the end of December set a two-week deadline for the action plan of each ministry which "should clearly bring out the institutional mechanism for use of space technology, involvement of state governments, field manpower, key projects envisaged benefits to the public and the timelines and estimates of budget requirement for implementing such projects."

The letter states that the departments are expected to internalise the use of space technology in their day-to-day functioning and not let this be a one-time effort.

For this purpose, a joint secretary level officer of the ministry with a dedicated team may be designated to interact with the Department of Space, identify new areas of intervention and proactively promote usage of space technology in the ministries, departments or agencies concerned.

"Nodal officers should directly report to the Secretary of the Department who would be expected to review the progress on a monthly basis and apprise me of the outcome through monthly DO letter," the order states.

The letter also emphasises that in order to translate these efforts into reality, full understanding and support of the state governments and local bodies will be necessary.

A senior officer said the Prime Minister has already referred to the benefits of space technology for the common man. It drives modern communication, empowers children in remote villages with quality education, and ensures quality healthcare to all,The official said scientists at the India Space Research Organisation (Isro) are working overtime to make space technology available to the use of the general public, rather than remaining fixated to exploratory missions or commercial satellite launches.

The technology is being made available to Central government departments for planning and improving delivery and governance structure.