HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced here on Friday that the Government was working for the creation of three lakh jobs in the information technology (IT) sector by 2009.

Strategy

A four-point strategy had been chalked out to strengthen IT education besides expanding the reach of information technology services beyond Hyderabad to the rural areas and smaller towns. To begin with, the Government was creating the necessary infrastructure in Tier II cities such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Warangal, Kakinada and Tirupati.

Addressing a gathering after unfurling the tricolour at the 58th Republic Day parade here on Friday, he observed that the rural youth were unable to compete with urban counterparts. Therefore, efforts such as setting up of Jawahar Knowledge Centres (JKCs) and 21st Century Gurukul were underway to develop human resources for the promotion of IT in the rural and remote areas. He said software exports from the State were expected to reach Rs. 19,000 crore from Rs. 12,521 crore last year.

This is the first time in the recent past that the Chief Minister is taking the salute at the Republic Day celebrations as Governor Rameshwar Thakur unfurled the flag in Bhubaneshwar.

Mr. Thakur has been serving as Governor of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh for close to one year.

Dr. Reddy also announced that regional development councils would be formed, one for each region, to take development even to far corners.

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