Chhattisgarh unveils ambitious gameplan to push infotech

Our eFE Bureau in New Delhi

The newly-formed state, Chhattisgarh has chalked out an ambitious road map for promoting Information Technology (IT) industry with a target to contribute 5 per cent of national IT output (around Rs 21,000 crore) by the year 2008.

The plan, according to a IT policy paper of the state government, will require RS 2,250 crore direct private sector investment and will result into Rs 14,000 crore software exports from the state.

An independent organisation under the name of Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHIPS) has also been floated by the government to promote IT in the state.

The state government has also offered certain incentives to the IT companies interested in setting up operations in Chhattisgarh. The incentives include exemption from payment of electricity duty for a period of five years, reimbursement of upto 50 per cent of the fee paid to recognised certification institutions for ISO 9000 series certificate, blanket exemption from pollution control regulation, land in industrial areas, exemption from payment of stamp duties on acquisition of property and 25 per cent rebate on premium charged for land alocation in industrial growth centers.

Besides, residential premises would be allowed to set up IT units and necessary amendments will be done in legislations relating to labour, factories, shops and establishments for the IT related units, claims the government.

The government has also prepared a list of e-governance projects to be executed as part of the plans. The state has set a target of providing information access to all citizens at affordable cost and will impart It education in all high school and colleges by 2003 and rest of the schools by 2008. It plans to achieve a target of 5 internet connection by per hundred people by 2005.

A center of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is also being set up at Bhilai with a high speed data communication facility.
A memorandum of understanding was signed here on Monday by STP director general S N Zindal and CHIPS chief executive Amit Agrawal.
The minister of information technology Pramod Mahajan and Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi were also present on the occasion.“The IT vision can not be realized with out the support of IT ministry,” said Mr Jogi while talking to the media after the signing of memorandum of understanding.