ICT poised for next leap of growth

Not withstanding the vagaries of global recessionary trends, the proposed Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) policy of Telangana state is likely to breathe a fresh lease of life into people-centric sector of IT industry. With sector-specific policies focusing on emerging markets, innovation and entrepreneurship, the youngest state in the Indian federation is poised to accelerate the selected growth engines with IT infrastructure foray in tier-II cities like Warangal, Karimnagar and Nizamabad.

In a significant way, Telangana government is focusing on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) as an effective tool for making the life a common man easier, convenient and hassle free.

Accordingly, the government is rolling out more ambitious policy frame work to exploit the existing IT infrastructure potential in a phased manner.

Telangana is looked at as a role model in e-governance and internet based administration as the state’s usage of IT initiatives have seeped into law and order, crime detection besides revenue and welfare administration. With a proactive and stakeholder promotion policy, the Telangana government is making strides by creating conducive platforms for investments in IT, ITeS, Animation and Gaming sectors.

On top of all, the government has installed a mechanism to monitor the benefit of IT percolating to the last mile beneficiary of the State and also provided a strong communication backbone for feedback and corrective measures, to transform the state into a knowledge society, albeit, a smart state.

Win-win credentials

Now, the government is focusing on the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) and plans to come up with an ICT policy that will drive huge investments into the region. Now that the GHMC elections are over, the government is mulling to introduce an ambitious, people friendly and investor-friendly ICT policy shortly.

As per the detailed project report (DPR), the benefits of the ITIR will bring direct revenues over Rs 3 lakh crore with potential for investment of over Rs 2 lakh crore and IT Exports of over Rs 2 lakh crore.

The project will create direct employment for 15 lakhs job seekers and generate indirect employment of nearly 53 lakhs. Of course, these are just projections and the State should to work hard to realise these, say analysts.

A unique ICT policy

The Telangana government held consultations with various verticals of ICT Sector and extensively deliberated on mapping the upcoming ICT Policy with industry associations and other stake holders.

As was said by the IT Secretary, Jayesh Ranjan, in one of the IT seminars, the state government is expected to announce a comprehensive ICT policy, very soon. The government has identified Warangal, Karimnagar, Khammam and Nizamabad as new destinations for ICT sector growth. Besides, it will have minimum two electronic manufacturing clusters called as e-city, and one at Maheshwaram.

The objective of the policy is to facilitate and ensure rapid growth of the IT sector and concurrently generation of employment, which will impact the growth of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and the overall socio-economic development of the State.

The proposed policy envisages the second level of development in the ICT sector in terms of development of high-end technologies for unique applications, officials pointed out. It would enable the state to achieve double the export turnover from the existing Rs 68,000 crore in the next two years.