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)