San Jose (California), Sep 27 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government "attacked poverty by using power of networks and mobile phones".

Speaking at the Digital India Dinner here, Modi said: "Since my government came to office we attacked poverty by using power of networks and mobile phones to launch a new era of empowerment."

"I see technology as a means to empower and as a tool that bridges the distance between hope and opportunity," he said, adding: "In this digital age, we have an opportunity to transform lives of people in ways that was hard to imagine just a couple of decades ago."

He also said: "The only status that now matters is not whether you are awake or asleep, but whether you are online or offline."

"California is one of the last places in the world to see the sun set. But, it is here that new ideas see the first light of the day."

On the social media frenzy, the prime minister said: "Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, they are the new neighbourhoods of our new world."