Aaroya Setu developed by..:govt after pulled up by CIC

After the RTI body notice to the government and asked it to explain the evasive RTI response over the creation of the Aarogya Setu app, the Centre has clarified that the Aarogya Setu app was developed by the government in collaboration with private enterprises. It further said that Aarogya Setu App is a product of Government of India built in collaboration with the best of the minds of Industry & Academia. Worlds largest contact tracing App, appreciated by WHO also.

In a two-page clarification tweeted from the official handle of the application, the Centre said Aarogya Setu has been downloaded by more than 16.23 crore users and it has been strengthening India’s fight against Covid-19. “It has helped identify bluetooth contacts of Covid-19 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 ectent of the exposure to Covid-19 positive user,” it said. Giving details of how the app was developed, the Centre said the app was developed in a record time of around 21 days. It was a ‘Make in India’ effort for which the best of Indian minds from industry, academia and government worked round the clock. NIC has developed the app in collaboration with volunteers from industry and academia, it said.

Earliar, an RTI filed two months back has revealed that the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has no information about the creators of Aarogya Setu App. The Central Information Commission (CIC) on Tuesday asked the NIC why it does not have information about the creators of the Aarogya Setu when Aarogya Setu website mentions that it was designed, developed and hosted by NIC. "The Commission directs the CPIO, NIC to explain this matter in writing as to how the website https://aarogyasetu.gov.in/ was created with the domain name gov.in, if they do not have any information about it," Information Commissioner Vanaja N Sarna said in the order. Saurav Das, the petitioner, filed a complaint against the relevant authorities stating that they had failed to furnish information about the process of creation of Aarogya Setu App and other information relating to its creation.