The Hindu : Front Page : YSR promises three lakh IT jobs

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Saturday, Jan 27, 2007
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YSR promises three lakh IT jobs

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Chief Minister unfurls tricolour at the Republic Day parade

RARE OPPORTUNITY: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy reviewing the Republic Day parade in Hyderabad on Friday. — PHOTO : P.V. SIVAKUMAR

HYDERABAD: 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.

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 like 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 rural youth was unable to compete with urban counterparts. Therefore, efforts like 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 crores from Rs. 12,521 crores last year.

First time

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. The councils would oversee implementation of various initiatives taken by the Government to achieve regional balance. Towards this end, they would specify "new needs", if any. He hoped that the Legislative Council, being revived, would play an effective role to shape the policies.

The Chief Minister said he had rejected the earlier policies that restricted development to some areas and sections. Accordingly, a three-pronged policy had been adopted to concentrate on rural development, IT and social welfare. Irrigation projects like Janjhavathi, Surampalem, Peddagedda, Pedderu, Suddavagu, AMR Canal, Brahmamgari Mattam had been completed and additional 12 lakh acres would be provided irrigation every year.

He said the poor would not be harassed while taking over assigned lands, and appealed to big people to surrender lands voluntarily. The initiatives on the farm front were such that a record 206 lakh tonne foodgrain production was expected this year. More crops would be covered by MSP.

New projects

Dr. Reddy made several announcements, including the setting up of 70 spinning mills in Guntur district, textile parks at Nacharam, Hindupur and Palamaneru and a jewellery unit in Ranga Reddy, all to offer 70,000 jobs.

Efforts were on to protect 5 per cent reservation for Muslims for whom pre-matric hostels would be opened in 12 districts. The health insurance scheme Arogyasri would be implemented from April 1 in Mahabubnagar, Anatnapur and Srikakulam districts.

Apart from Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy and BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya and APCC president K. Keshava Rao, six Ministers were present.

The Chief Minister's box was occupied by his family members. Dr Reddy earlier took salute at the ceremonial parade and inspected a guard of honour.

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