A Rs 6,000 crore National Knowledge Network programme would be implemented in the next five years to facilitate interlinking of agricultural, medical colleges, research institutions and other academic organisations, Union Communications and IT Minister A Raja said today.
The Network's purpose was to enable research students and others to have interaction and keep themselves abreast of latest development in their respective areas.
The UPA ministry had approved the National Knowledge Network policy three weeks ago, he said after laying the foundation stone for a Rs 20 crore Software Technology Park of India-IT Park at Pondicherry Engineering College.
Union Territory would be the first in the country to get the "E-district" facility, he said in response to a plea made by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister V Narayanasamy and Chief Minister V Vaithilingam that Puducherry be brought under the scheme from the current year.
Tamil Nadu was the first to come out with an IT Policy and Chief Minister M Karuanidhi took the lead in the country in this regard, he said.
The Centre had also evolved a Rs 2.6 crore Semi-Conductor Investment Policy and necessary MoU had been signed already, he added.
