IT HANDBOOK SOUTH INDIA
of any other sector. The government has given free hand to
resource as the state produces ample numbers. In the state
the IT&C department and even the IT policy and the response
about 100,000 engineers pass out every year and about 450,
to industry is very supportive. We are trying our best to
000 other graduates are available. In terms of quantity this
develop the sector in a streamlined manner.”
number is good, but we have to improve the quality. So
The state Government is determined to make available the fruits of Information Technology & Communication across the spectrum of the society which was hitherto limited to small pockets like Madhapur and Gachibowli. Therefore, a conscious effort is being made to spread and take IT to areas around Hyderabad and even to small towns, so that the entire state will be transformed into a Knowledge Society.
steps like the Jawahar Knowledge Centers, which was pioneered by the state is a step in the right direction. Now universal coverage of all engineering and degree colleges is in place. We have also started a portal to provide a meeting ground between technical institutions, the industry, students and training institutions.” The state is also launching a special training programme for the weaker sections.
The government realizes that different stages of development requires different stages of support and it is moving ahead with this thought process. Joshi justifies, “For Example, if some unknown destination is to be promoted then you have to go out of the way by providing free land, power, and probably the building also. When the place becomes slightly well known, then the industry also does not need such support. Right now Andhra Pradesh is at such a stage where industry feels that if we are able to give cost effective and efficient systems, they are
“THE POLICY IS A GRADUAL EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS. THERE ARE CERTAIN ASPECTS WHICH ONE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE UPON.
LIKE THE SEZ FOR SMES. INFACT SEZS ITSELF WAS NOT PART OF THE POLICY. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL ASPECTS OF POTENTIAL AND DEVELOPING THE PROCESS OF POLICY MAKING”
willing to expand and grow.” But land in some of Tier II cities is still a problem. In Vizag, the cost of land is very high unlike Tirupati or Warangal where there are some land available. So incentives are different for
Employment opportunities were provided to 1.27 lakh youth
different cities.
so far in IT Sector. Jawahar Knowledge Centre (JKC) which were conceived to impart training to the rural based students
“We are also further fine-tuning our policy in terms of land
have started yielding excellent results.
allotment as land prices in Hyderabad is exorbitant. Atleast we can have different norms for tier II cities and then even
Commenting the possibility of resumption of GITEX, which
smaller companies can be given further support. We are also
was called off due to certain issues facing the industry in
in consultation with HYSEA and other industry associations to
terms of benefit as well as the need felt by the organizers for
start exclusive SEZs for SMEs,” said Joshi.
having 12-16 months time for preparing for the mega-event, “We have partnered with FICCI, Nasscom, HYSEA and
It has also enshrined the required support in its IT policy, but this has been undertaken by many other states too and according to Joshi the difference lies in the delivery to the
others to ensure that the summit stays. So, Indiasoft 2008 is scheduled for 20 and 21st March 2008,” says Joshi.
entrepreneur. “The entrepreneurs comes here for two things… infrastructure and human resources. We are now focusing on human
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March - 2008