The Hindu Business Line : Raja moots task force to promote IT sector

New Delhi, June 10 The Communications and IT Minister, Mr A. Raja, has told the Prime Minister that a task force will be set up to chart out the future roadmap for the IT sector.

The task force will comprise experts from the IT industry and the various government departments to suggest the policy initiatives required to take the sector to the next level of growth.

Mr Raja met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday to brief him on the agenda for the IT and Communications Ministry.

According to top government sources, Mr Raja has also sought extension of tax sops enjoyed by the IT firms for another three years.

Under the Software Technology Park Scheme (STPI), IT units enjoy tax benefits under Sections 10 A and 10 B. The tax benefits under the STPI, set to lapse in March 2009, were extended till March 31, 2010.

Official sources said that Mr Raja briefed the Prime Minister about the benefits of extending the exemption under the scheme.

Letter of appreciation

Mr Raja also gave a letter of appreciation to the Prime Minister for having re-appointed him as the Telecom and IT Minister.

“It is expected that with new telecom players coming in, roll out in rural areas which have not seen the revolution of telecom sector will be much faster in the coming years as compared in the past. Although all the new licencees have not started their services, the average tariff in the telecom sector has already started declining, paving the way for further reduction in tariff. I am hopeful that when all the new licencees start their services, the tariff which is already lowest in the world, will come down further and ‘Aam Aadmi’ of the country will be able to benefit from this,” Mr Raja said in his letter.

The Minister also briefed Dr Singh about the plans to auction 3G spectrum.

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