The Hindu Business Line : TN policy focuses on spread-out growth in IT

New policy: The Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr A. Raja, receiving a copy of the IT policy from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, in Chennai on Tuesday as the IT Secretary, Dr C. Chandramouli, and the Chief Secretary, Mr L. K. Tripathy, look on. —

Our Bureau

Chennai, July 29 The Tamil Nadu Government today unveiled the Information, Communication and Technology Policy, 2008 with a thrust on incentivising units set up in smaller towns and villages and developing the full eco-system for the development of the industry.

Explaining the thrust of the policy to Business Line, the State IT Secretary, Dr C. Chandramouli, said that the policy for 2008 is different from the previous policies on two major counts.

First, it channels investments into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, for more secular growth across the State, by providing incentives and capital subsidy to units set up in there. Second, it addresses the entire eco-system — encompassing education, finishing schools, industry-academia partnership, civic amenities, branding.

This aspect recognises one need: incentives may attract investments, but the eco-system is necessary for sustained good performance of the units.

For example, the policy says that the Government would “conduct a comprehensive safety review” in key cities and emerging industrial clusters. “Based on the review it will identify prevention mechanisms for potential threats (individual safety, safety to industries).”

Nurturing talent

A task force will be set up for developing technical institutes in the State into centres of excellence. Each centre will adopt neighbouring ITIs and polytechnics.

The State will encourage the industry to develop a standardised ICT aptitude test. The tests will be conducted across the State and the scores obtained in these tests could be used during recruitment by ICT firms.

The State will also facilitate partnerships between educational institutes and industry to identify specific areas of research and provide incentives for students from Tamil Nadu to take up doctoral and post-doctoral research in the ICT area. Setting up research parks in the State will also be explored.

Boost to research

Mr Lakshmi Narayanan, Vice-Chairman, Cognizant Technology Solutions, said for the first time emphasis has been placed on encouraging research in academic institutions, teaching entrepreneurship in all colleges and setting up incubation centres. These steps are necessary for the ICT industry to spearhead innovation.

Mr Subu D. Subramanian, Director and Senior Vice-President, Satyam Computer Services, welcomed the policy noting that it focuses on an integrated approach with services, hardware and software.

The focus on education, R&D and providing soft skills to students is a welcome measure, he said.

The policy aims to raise Tamil Nadu’s contribution to national ICT production from 11 per cent now to 25 per cent by 2011. Today, ICT production of the State is $ 5.7 billion.

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