The task force will include Fakirchand Kohli, vice-president of Tata Consultancy Services, Vijay Bhatkar, president ETH Corporation, SV Moghe, head of the computer engineering department of VRCE, Nagpur, Prashant Pole, director of telematic engineers, Kiran Deshpande, chif executive officer of Mahindra British Telecom and Sudheerendra Kulkarni, member of the national task force on IT.

Joshisaid that the task force would seek implementation of IT programmes in educational institutions in the state and supervise computerisation of all government departments and offices. It will also create and develop the rapport between IT professionals and industrialists from here and abroad. Joshi said that the task force would be engaged in promoting the development of the state's hardware industry through a park at Dronagiri in Navi Mumbai. It would recommend promotion of software exports, recorded at Rs 3,500 crore of the total country's exports of Rs 6,500 crore.Joshi said that 1999 would be observed as IT year. The state secretariat would be connected with all talukas through e-mail from May 1 (Maharashtra day).

He added that computerisation of government department with high public contact was on the cards. An interface between the people and the government through bulletin boards and public teleinfo centres would ensure effective use of government programmes, policies and procedures.