The Hindu : Tangible gains from IT, says Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tangible gains from IT, says Naidu

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 12. The State Government has gone in for e-procurement to the tune of Rs. 2,000 crores, and this has resulted in a savings of Rs. 200 crores.

This was cited by the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, while justifying his taking up the cause of Information Technology, and to show it as an example of a consequential benefit accruing to the State.

Speaking during a special session of the iTech 2004, organised by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) here on Monday, he said "if we do e-procurement for Rs. 10,000 then I can save Rs. 1,000 which I can use to modernise every department.''

IT was now a "strategic tool" for development, whether it is used by Government or by corporates. It was a must for everyone, he felt. Recalling that he was the lone advocate for IT eight years ago, he said there had been resistance, but this had come down and it was more acceptable now.

Information Technology had brought pride and recognition to Indians and established that they could perform. It was now a major beneficiary of outsourcing, because of its low cost but very capable human resources. During the recently-concluded Partnership Summit, US Congressmen said in private that they were opposing outsourcing because they had a political problem. "They told me you (India) are opposing agriculture and we (US) are facing a similar situation (in outsourcing).''

"They have political problem, so they will not agree openly, but it is a phenomenon happening everywhere globally,'' Mr. Naidu said.

India was a major beneficiary of outsourcing, and could become a major force in the "Knowledge" economy, given its talented human resources. India was a rich country made poor by "poverty of thinking," he observed. Recalling his statement that China was adding 1 million new cell phone connections every year, he pointed out that now India was adding 1.3 million connections!

"Our dream will become a reality," he said citing how the economy was growing, the projections made by Goldman Sachs, and said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government had done well and "will be re-elected.''

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