Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, United Nations (UN) unveiled India’s first indigenously created low-cost tablet, Aakash 2.

The tablet was showcased at the UN headquarters in New York on the occasion of India’s current presidency of the UN Security Council.  The tablet was presented to Ki-moon by Suneet Singh Tuli, chief executive officer, Datawind, manufacturer of the Aakash tablet.

Ki-moon termed India as a “super-power” in the field of information technology. He said, “India is a critical player on security issues, but the country is also a leader in technology. Indeed, India is a super-power on the information superhighway. And that is why places like Hyderabad are called ‘Cyberabad’.”

He stated that he was aware that ‘Aakash’ means ‘sky’ in Hindi and called on nations to work with the UN to help young people “reach for the sky and meet their dreams’’. According to Ki-moon, technology is not an end in itself but is the key to empower people to make the most of their own potential.

He added, “Information and communications technologies are engines of economic growth and development and can help transform people’s lives. They are great enablers, helping people communicate across distances, facilitating trade and commerce and providing better access to healthcare and education.”

Ki-moon said technology is not an end in itself but is the key to empower people to make the most of their own potential.

He further added that technology is being used in innumerable ways around the world to improve the lives of people but the challenge is to leverage the power of technology and bridge the digital divide.