The Hindu : Business : ‘Extend sunset clause to IT’

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Thursday, Dec 06, 2007
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‘Extend sunset clause to IT’

Special Correspondent

Nasscom wants fast track courts to try cyber crimes

Suggests ‘4E framework’ for security
‘Involve DSCI in policy decisions’

HYDERABAD: The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has expressed ‘serious concern’ over the spurt in rupee value against the U.S. dollar. IT companies are going to be hit hard, if the trend continues at this pace for five more years,” according to the President of Nasscom, Kiran Karnik.

Addressing a press conference after the Information Security Conclave-2007 here on Tuesday, Mr. Karnik said the rupee appreciation would not have been of such serious concern, had it not surged 15 per cent in just one year. Exports would be badly affected.

‘Consultative body’

“Small and medium companies will be the worst hit,” he said. While the current year’s growth was projected at 26-28 per cent, the future was hanging in balance, he said. The Nasscom was enlisting the support of the Chief Ministers of States, where IT was a major activity, to persuade the Centre to extend the sunset clause under the STPI scheme by ten more years to protect the industry. If foreign companies took a second look at investing in India, “we are beginning to see an opportunity lost,” said Mr. Karnik.

The association wanted the Government to essentially involve Data Security Council of India (DSCI), the self-regulatory organisation (SRO) on information security, in policy decisions and confer the status of ‘consultative body’ on it.

Dialogue

The DSCI was in dialogue with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on amendments to the Information Technology Act, 2000, to further tighten the rules on contractual forms, digitisation of signatures and intensity of punishment for cyber crimes.

Nasscom’s security initiatives suggested a ‘4E framework’ — Engagement, Education, Enactment and Enforcement.

He also wanted the Government to set up fast track courts exclusively to try cyber crimes.

Shyamal Ghosh, Chairman of DSCI, said data safety was becoming culturally sensitive, as India was becoming the BPO hub for 60-70 countries and dealt with a lot of legal, medical and financial information of individuals, who sought privacy.

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