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K.G. Kumar

LIKE the proverbial tortoise making it to the finishing line as an overconfident hare dozed off in blissful complacence, one southern State has been quietly making significant strides in the information technology (IT) sector, so much so it is now poised to be the numero uno, beating Karnataka, home to Bangalore, India's Silicon Valley, and long regarded the unbeatable leader in matters of software and computing.

No, sad to report, that spunky State is not Kerala, however much Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries and IT, may pine for that laurel. Rather, the winning State is Tamil Nadu. In its just-released report, `India: E-readiness Assessment Report, 2003', prepared by the Department of IT (DIT) of the Union Government's Ministry of IT, Tamil Nadu ranks second, behind Karnataka, as India's most e-ready State.

The assessment was meant to quantify the levels of achievement of each State in terms of an e-readiness index, based on six broad parameters: network access, network learning, network society, network economy, network policy and e-governance.

Each of these parameters was ranked on a scale of one to six. In the six parameters, Karnataka grossed a total of 31 points, while Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra tied, at 30 points each. Andhra Pradesh came next, with 27 points. Tamil Nadu scored the maximum points (six) in three categories - network learning, network economy and network policy - and was ranked behind leader Maharashtra in e-governance. Karnataka scored over Tamil Nadu in network access and network society.

Tamil Nadu is clubbed with Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as "leaders" in IT, with Gujarat, Goa, Delhi and Chandigarh following the lead pack as "aspiring leaders." While none of the four States ranked very high in network access, Karnataka led with four points out of a maximum six, while Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra scored three each.

Behind the true leaders and aspiring leaders come the next bunch - Kerala, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, which are classified as "expectants," while Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Pondicherry, Haryana and Rajasthan find themselves described as "average achievers."

At the bottom of the list come the "least achievers" - Assam, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Daman and Diu and Manipur.

According to the DIT, though India has been assessed 11 times at the global level, the current assessment is the first of its kind within the country. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu's IT officials are already working on an action plan to take the State to the top spot. The plan conceives of sub-groups in each of the six key areas identified by the DIT report, which will look into specific segments that need a special thrust.

For instance, in the area of network access, the focus areas will include information infrastructure, Internet affordability, hardware and software, and service and support.

In e-governance, the areas identified are data systems, infrastructure, government preparedness and awareness generation. The action plan proposes a `fast track' route, lined with clear-cut goals for specific time periods. If Kerala hopes to move from the "expectant" to the "leader" status in e-readiness, then it clearly needs to follow in Tamil Nadu's footsteps. Rather than concentrate too much on the success and methods of Karnataka, Kerala should perhaps check out its immediate neighbour more often. Success may lie closer home.

The writer can be contacted at kg@tug.org.in

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