United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for an action plan on the use of information and communication technologies in bridging the digital divide, especially in the developing countries.

In a message -- which was read at the inaugural function -- to the third Asia Pacific Initiatives on Information Society Meeting, being held in Bangalore from Monday, Annan said the developed countries and UN agencies should strive to ensure that the benefits of ICT applications reach the rural masses in the countryside for improving their standard of live.

"The explosive development of ICT, its applications, and the emergence of a global information society are changing the way people live, learn, work and interact. Enhanced access to knowledge is rapidly becoming a potent tool for empowering the people and communities in their quest for new opportunities, dignity and a better life," Annan told the delegates in a speech read out at the inaugural session of the meeting.

Lamenting that billions of the world's people still remain untouched by these exciting developments, Annan said they were missing out on the benefit of ICT as key catalysts for social, economic and cultural development.

"The divide between technology's haves and have-nots threatens to exacerbate the gaps between the rich and poor, within and among countries," Annan warned.

Referring to the forthcoming World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in Geneva during December, Annan said such a meet would offer a unique opportunity to shape the future of a truly global, inclusive and human development-oriented information society.

"To achieve this, all stakeholders --- governments, private sector and civil society --- need to combine their efforts in a coherent and sustainable endeavor at global, regional, national and local levels," Annan asserted.

Lauding the success achieved by some countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the UN head said a lot more work remained to be done to take the benefits of the ongoing information revolution to all people in many regions.

"I hope the World Summit will provide an opportunity to forge an action plan to put technology at the service of human development," Annan added.

Earlier, Telecom Commission chairman Vinod Vaish urged the delegates to evolve a consensus on the strategies to be adopted at the ensuing UN summit for a share of the development funds to be allocated by the UN agencies and the developed countries in spreading the benefits of ICT applications in the Asia-Pacific region.

"About 60 per cent of the world's population and 75 per cent of the world's poor live in the Asia-Pacific region, with two-thirds of them dwell in the rural areas.

With the ICT permeating every aspect of human life and improving the living standards the world over, it is imperative that the same benefits are extended to the under privileged for equitable and sustainable development," Vaish stated.

In spite of rapid progress made by a handful of developed and developing countries in the region in the growth and use of ICT for their urban people, a large number of countries and their population continue to remain out of the technology loop, widening the digital divide.

Calling for greater resources and investment by the private sector, Vaish admitted that funds from governments and developed countries in implementing the ICT projects have been on the decline due to budget constraints.

"With the effective deployment of ICT applications in the core areas of education, healthcare, and connectivity for redressing the grievances of the people in the countryside, the digital divide can be narrowed as wireless and satellite links have made them economical and affordable," Vaish affirmed.