After announcing distribution of laptops and tablet computers to students passing standard X and XII, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced the formulation of a new policy to boost Information Technology (IT),IT Enabled Services (ITES) and electronics industry in the state.
Industry and IT experts have welcomed the prospects of the new IT policy, but have stressed on strengthening the implementation mechanism of the policy rather than just its formulation.
During 2010-11, IT exports from UP clocked about Rs 11,000 crore and this year, it is likely to touch almost Rs 14,000 crore. It is lesser known that UP was once among the country’s top 3 IT exporters, but now it had slumped to the 6th position.
A progressive IT policy would not only give a great fillip to the sector, but boost e-governance in the state, which had taken some roots in the form of common service centres.
“It is a welcome step and I believe IT could have good application in education and e-governance in UP,” NIIT CEO Vijay Thadani told Business Standard over telephone.“UP has already proved that if there are conducive policies, the state can achieve good results. For example, Noida, which is currently India’s fourth largest export hub,” he added. He also suggested that Lucknow could be developed as an IT hub.
In a review meeting recently,Yadav had directed officials to formulate a new IT policy and take necessary steps to promote IT and BPO industry in Lucknow and Agra. He observed there was good employment potential in the IT sector and a new policy was vital to impart IT-centric educationto the youth. “My expectation is that IT should have local application in UP for example education,since it would have a multiplier effect. Besides, it could be used to monitor government services and e-governance,”Thadani added.
TCS Principal Consultant,Jayant Krishna underlined that setting up of IT SEZs should be a vital part of the new policy and effective implementation mechanism should be put in place.
“Findings of a NASSCOMKPMG study had reiterated that policies alone will not be sufficient to attract IT/ITeS industry. These must be supported by near-term investment expediency efforts and longer-term infrastructure development initiatives undertaken by the governments,” he added.
Krishna suggested that to solicit IT investments, an effective single window service should be made operational.
The current IT policy was framed in 2004, when the Mulayam Singh Yadav government was at the helm. This policy granted benefits to the industry, but its implementation was rather ineffective, he lamented.
