(18.05.08, Muscat). The Sultanate yesterday
celebrated the World IT Day which was held this year
under the theme 'Linking the disabled with information
and communications technology'.
On this occasion, the Information Technology Authority
(ITA) organised a programme at Muscat InterContinental
Hotel under the auspices of Dr Sharifa bint Khalfan bin
Nassir Al Yahyaeiyah, minister of social development.
In her speech, the minister said that involving the
disabled in the activities of the international IT
community is a good initiative. Today's remembrance of
people with disability by the Omani society testifies the
importance of this segment in society, she noted.
She further said that the disability ratio in the
Sultanate is relatively less, as it doesn't exceed 2 per
cent. Disabilities at the moment are declining somehow,
due to the advances made in health services and its
impact on this segment, she added.
The ministry has promulgated the disabled law which
obliges all government departments, concerned authorities
and civil society to deal with the issues of the disabled
on an equal footing with other citizens, she said.
The Sultanate joined the international convention on
the disabled to ensure clauses stipulated the disabled
law.
In his turn, Sheikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed Al Harthy,
undersecretary of the National Economy Ministry for
Development Affairs, and deputy chairman of the IT
authority said that celebration of the World IT Day by
the Sultanate stressed the importance of involving
segments of society in the efforts being made by states
in the IT field.
He told reporters that among ITA's concern is to build
a digital society in the Sultanate by raising awareness
in all segments of society, as well as enhancing their
potentials in this field.
ITA has recently accomplished the e-government portal
payment system project, being currently under testing, he
added. ITA executive president Dr Salim bin Sultan Al
Ruzaiqi gave a speech at the opening ceremony wherein he
said that marking the World IT Day reflects the
international communications union's keenness to create
awareness on the importance of the digital technology and
its role in enhancing countries' efforts in achieving
further development, progress and prosperity by providing
digital communications to individuals and easy access to
information and services to save more time and efforts.
The ITA will implement a number of projects which
includes knowledgeable society centres at a number of
governorates and regions in the Sultanate which would
provide specialised training for various segments in
society in the area of digital transaction and enable
them to interact with various electronic services, he
added.
The chief guest later distributed prizes to blind
students from Omar bin Al Khatab School for the Blind, a
number of officials at Al Noor Association for the Blind,
as well as honouring companies which contributed to the
Sultanate's celebration of the World IT Day.
Source
www.timesofoman.com
