New Delhi: The union ministry of electronics and IT has clarified that AarogyaSetu App was launched by government of India in public private partnership mode to bring people of India together in its fight against Covid-19.
“It has been clearly mentioned that the AarogyaSetu App has been developed by NIC in collaboration with volunteers from Industry and academia.”
The ministry clarification has been issued following reports in media including this news web portal- India Whispers.Com- that the IT ministry and the NIC remains elusive to a RTI query. Vexed with the replies by IT ministry and the NIC to the query as to who created the ArogyaSetu App, the Central Information Commission has summoned the CPIOs to appear before the commission on 24th November.
“Attention has been drawn to media reports regarding orders passed by Central Information Commission regarding an RTI query with regard to AarogyaSetu App. As per the orders, of the CIC, the CPIOs of MeitY, NeGD and NIC have been directed to appear on 24th November 2020. MeitY is taking necessary steps to comply with the orders of the CIC.”
“As has been mentioned earlier, the App has been developed in a collaborative effort of government and priivate sector. The App has been downloaded by more than 16.23 Cr users and has greatly augmented the efforts of front line health workers in the fight against Covid-19. It has helped identify Bluetooth contacts of Covid positive users and issued alerts for helping people to stay safe. These Bluetooth contacts have been advised for caution, quarantine or testing depending on the extent of exposure to COVID19 positive user. Amongst those who have been advised testing, almost 25% have tested positive. This is much higher compared to the overall positivity rate of 7-8%.”
“Thus, the efficiency of testing has gone up with AarogyaSetu. In addition, AarogyaSetu ITIHAS interface with location data has helped identify emerging hotspots where proactive steps have been taken by Health authorities and administration in order to contain the spread of the Virus. Thus, AarogyaSetu has proved to be very useful in India’s fight against COVID19. Recently, WHO has also appreciated the role of AarogyaSetu in containing the pandemic in India.”
