Panaji: The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), under Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Government of Goa, organized the ‘BHASHINI Rajyam: State Engagement Workshop’ in Panaji.
The workshop focused on advancing multilingual Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and strengthening language-first Digital Public Infrastructure in Goa.
The event brought together policymakers, government officials, industry leaders, startups, academicians, and language experts to discuss the role of AI in making digital governance more inclusive and accessible.
The workshop was attended by Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism, Printing & Stationery Mr. Rohan A. Khaunte.
AI Technology to Make Digital Governance Accessible in Konkani
A major focus of the workshop was the promotion of AI-powered language technologies, especially for the Konkani language.
The discussions highlighted how multilingual AI can help citizens access government services, information platforms, and digital applications in their preferred language.
The initiative aims to create a voice-first digital ecosystem where language barriers do not restrict access to public services.
Through AI-based solutions such as translation, speech recognition, and voice technology, citizens will be able to interact more easily with digital platforms.
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Goa Government and BHASHINI Division Discuss Language-Based Digital Transformation
The inaugural session featured addresses by senior government officials and leaders, including:
- Mr. Santosh Sukhdve, IAS, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Government of Goa
- Mr. Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Goa
- Dr. Chandrakant Shetye, MLA, Bicholim and Chairman, InfoTech Corporation of Goa Ltd.
- Mr. Rohan A. Khaunte, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism, Printing & Stationery, Government of Goa
- Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa
The speakers highlighted the importance of technology-driven language inclusion and strengthening digital services for citizens across the state.
BHASHINI CEO Highlights Vision for Language-First Digital Public Infrastructure
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Amitabh Nag, CEO of Digital India BHASHINI Division, explained BHASHINI’s vision of creating a language-first Digital Public Infrastructure powered by multilingual AI.
He highlighted the growing impact of BHASHINI across important sectors, including:
- Governance
- Tourism
- Healthcare
- Education
- Banking
- Citizen services
He emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between governments, academic institutions, startups, and language experts to develop regional language ecosystems, including Konkani.
Workshop Showcases AI-Based Translation and Speech Technologies
The workshop included technical sessions on the National Hub for Language Technology (NHLT) and showcased BHASHINI’s expanding multilingual AI ecosystem.
Participants were introduced to various AI-powered solutions, including:
- BHASHINI App Mitra
- BHASHINI Mitra
- BHASHINI Pravakta
These platforms demonstrate the use of advanced technologies such as:
- AI-based translation
- Speech recognition
- Text-to-speech conversion
- Transliteration
- Multilingual APIs
These technologies can be integrated into government applications and citizen-focused digital services.
Live Demonstrations Highlight AI Solutions for Citizen Services
The BHASHINI team conducted live demonstrations of its multilingual AI tools, allowing participants to experience voice technology, translation, transcription, and document-based solutions.
The demonstrations showed how BHASHINI can support:
- Citizen-centric governance
- Tourism services
- Public information access
- Digital platforms in regional languages
The initiative aims to improve digital experiences for both residents and visitors by enabling seamless multilingual communication.
Focus on Strengthening Konkani Language Ecosystem Through AI
A dedicated session during the workshop focused on developing the Konkani language ecosystem through collaboration among:
- Government departments
- Universities and academic institutions
- Language experts
- Technology partners
Discussions focused on:
- Expanding Konkani language datasets
- Improving AI language models
- Identifying Goa-specific use cases
- Increasing adoption of multilingual AI solutions
The initiative aims to accelerate the use of AI-powered services in Konkani and strengthen regional language technology.
Open Mic Session Explores AI Applications Across Key Sectors
The workshop also featured an Open Mic session where participants discussed practical applications of multilingual AI across different sectors.
Key areas explored included:
- Governance services
- Tourism
- Education
- Healthcare
- Citizen support systems
Participants discussed opportunities to integrate BHASHINI solutions into Goa’s digital platforms to create more inclusive and accessible public services.
BHASHINI and Goa Government Commit to Inclusive Digital Future
The workshop marked the beginning of deeper cooperation between the Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Government of Goa.
Both organizations aim to strengthen the Konkani language ecosystem, identify priority areas, and expand multilingual AI adoption across government services.
The collaboration is expected to support more accessible, inclusive, and citizen-friendly digital governance in Goa.
Leaders Highlight Importance of AI-Based Language Inclusion
Goa IT Minister Mr. Rohan A. Khaunte said that the BHASHINI Rajyam Workshop represents an important step toward creating an inclusive and AI-powered digital Goa.
He emphasized that removing language barriers will help citizens, including people in remote areas, access digital services in Konkani and other languages.
Mr. Amitabh Nag highlighted a simulated voice journey of a Goan youth during the workshop, demonstrating how BHASHINI’s AI ecosystem can enable interaction with government schemes, digital services, education platforms, and citizen support systems through voice-based technology.
He also stressed the importance of developing high-quality Konkani language datasets to improve AI capabilities.
About Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD)
The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), under Digital India Corporation and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is India’s national platform for AI-powered multilingual digital inclusion.
BHASHINI supports more than 800 government websites, has enabled over 8 billion AI inferences, processes more than 20 million AI inferences daily, and supports:
- 36 Indian text languages
- 23 Indian voice languages
- 35 international languages
The platform aims to make Digital Public Infrastructure more accessible through advanced language AI technologies.
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