The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : We are not against IT: CM

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Sunday, Jul 04, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

We are not against IT: CM

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 3. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Saturday reiterated that the Congress Government was neither against technology advancement nor information technology.

Inaugurating two new buildings in the Kukatpally campus of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) here, namely the School of Information Technology (SIT) and the Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Reddy said it was imperative for rural infrastructure to be improved. `It is unfortunate that 67 per cent of population, which is involved in agriculture and related activity, accounts for only 13 of the State's (GDP). A decade ago, it was 24 per cent. "It is time for us to take action and improve things," he said, adding that he had only stressed improvement of rural infrastructure and not seeking to overlook IT education.

He said that in a highly competitive field, it was of paramount importance for students to become `intellectual products of excellence.'"Just having buildings was not enough. The faculty should churn out gems which can withstand the competition and excel," he said.

"It is good to note that the State is exporting software worth Rs. 5,000 crores each year. But look at our neighbour, Karnataka. It is exporting about Rs. 20,000 crores every year. Where do we stand?" he asked. "We need to have a good industrial climate to attract entrepreneurs. This requires good infrastructural and logistic support. That is what we are trying to do," he said.

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