MP Government aims at 5-10 %of the National IT sector

The State Government is targeting five percent to ten

percent share in the national IT output by the year 2008, said KS Sharma, Chief

Secretary, Madhya Pradesh. Although the State, after an increase in the

engineering seats, will produce 12000 engineers every year, is far behind states

like Tamil Nadu, which churns out nearly 50,000 engineers every year. He

attributed the large investment in the IT sector in the state of Tamil Nadu and

Karnataka to the availability of trained and technically qualified manpower in

these two states. The target for the same in Madhya Pradesh is achievable

through concentrated and collective efforts, he added.

The Chief Secretary was addressing a seminar on

‘Emerging Areas of IT’ organized by Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University

of Journalism. Dr PB Sharma, VC, Rajiv Gandhi Technology University, was also

present on the occasion.

Dr Sharma said that the initiative launched by the state

government in the form of the state's new IT policy will go a long way in adding

momentum to the socio-economic development of Madhya Pradesh. Adding that the IT

industry in Madhya Pradesh had a turnover of Rs 100 crore with an export

component of Rs 30 crore, both corporate participation as well as participation

of the people of the state will further boost the pace of development and IT

potential in Madhya Pradesh.

Referring to the Gyandoot project in the district of

Dhar, he said that international fame and recognition has proved immensely

beneficial for the rural masses. Under the 'Headstart' scheme, children in 7500

middle schools in rural areas now had access to computer-enabled education   

Dr Sharma, talking on the commitment of the state

government for promotion of IT in the state, said as a result of the IT policy

of the government, a large number of IT-based industries were coming up in the

State. He said that with greater public participation and more support from the

private sector, the pace of development will pick up even more in Madhya Pradesh.

Ramsharan Joshi, ED, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National

University of Journalism spoke about the integral role of IT in journalism, and

said for the print media, the utilization and support of IT was crucial to its

survival.

(CNS)