The Hindu : Front Page : Private participation in development of IT parks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 18, 2007
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Front Page

Private participation in development of IT parks

Special Correspondent

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The draft information technology (IT) policy released by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan here on Wednesday proposes to make Kerala a cradle of knowledge workers. It aims to upgrade the productivity, skill and knowledge levels of the citizen.

Proposals include establishment of an International Centre for Free Software and Computing for Development, ITES Training Centre (in Kochi) and extension of Internet to all educational institutions and villages by 2010. Around 3,000 broadband-enabled information hubs called Akshaya e-Centres will be set up in difference parts of the State.

The Government will support private initiatives to set up IT parks. Private IT parks that meet a minimum set of standards shall be promoted by the Government as an integral part of the State's IT infrastructure, if the parks desire so. The Government will expand Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi on its own accord and in partnership with private infrastructure providers.

Focus areas include e-governance, free software and development of appropriate technologies. The State will network with national and international organisations and industry for research and development in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and knowledge sharing. The proposed Centre for Free Software will focus on developing technologies relevant for social and economic advancement in developing countries.

The policy stresses that Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) will be used in e-governance projects. Open standards such as Unicode and Open Document Format and Open Architectures will be followed in e-governance projects to avoid total dependence on select vendors. The Government proposed to develop the State as the FOSS destination in the country. It will provide special incentives to companies developing FOSS.

The policy says that the State will try to make maximum use of ICT in governance. Taking the Right to Information Act in its true spirit, the Government will take up ICT-enabled programmes for efficient flow of information between citizens and the Government.

The Government will make use of all the media tools and emerging technologies to ensure proper communication between the Government and the citizen. The Government will promote the use of Web sites, e-mails and other news communication facilities in various Government and semi-Government organisations. It will try to make sure that its Web sites are actively maintained and kept updated.

Web sites will be made available in Malayalam. Government Orders and Gazette notifications will be made available through Web sites.

The Government will set up a knowledge management facility that will maintain an inventory of all e-governance projects in the State and document experiences and best practices from different projects. This facility will provide the intellectual and academic leadership required for e-governance. It will adopt e-procurement to bring in efficiency and transparency in Government purchases.

Special incentives will be provided to companies offering knowledge intensive and high value ICT services to set up units in the State. Incentives will also be given to companies commencing operations outside the main IT hubs of Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. Small and medium enterprise sector would be given special incentives such as incubation facility, access to venture capital and legal support. They will be encouraged to take up value-added services. Special attention will be accorded to content industry considering the State's potential in this area.

An Industry Promotion Cell will be established to provide all the necessary information to prospective investors and to assist them in setting up units. Amendments to existing laws will be made to provide for flexible working conditions. Finishing schools for students will be established with industry participation. Programmes will be created to impart ICT skills among all students and teachers. Libraries in the State will be transformed into knowledge centres and EDUSAT network will be used for dissemination of knowledge and information to all sections of society.

The Government will also take up programmes for promoting the use of ICT among workers, women and youth. ICT will also be used to address special needs of the physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged. The Government will announce fiscal incentives towards meeting the objectives of the policy later. IT Mission Director K. R. Jyothilal said the draft policy would be discussed in various fora and final policy announced in a month. A discussion forum is available at http:// www.itforum.Kerala.gov.in

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