1st software technology park for NE in Assam

GUWAHATI, August 13: Union information technology minister Pramod Mahajan has urged the youth of the Northeast to drop their guns and take to computers. At the inauguration of a software technology park here on Sunday, Mahajan said: "Bullets and barrels can never bring in peace and prosperity. The youth of the region should understand the miracle of information technology." According to him, India would emerge as the global leader in IT in the next few years. Giving the example of Germany, the minister said they are considering allowing Indians to work there. "Indians have established their credibility all over the world and have raced ahead of the developed countries," Mahajan said. The minister praised the officials concerned for completing the Guwahati software technology park on time and announced a rebate of 15 per cent for entrepreneurs at this park. "Our mission is to take IT to the villages," Mahajan said. He asserted that his ministry was committed to connect all 484 blocks in the region through the Internet. With the inauguration of the software technology park, the IT ministry has fulfilled one of the commitments given by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in his Rs 220-crore package, Mahajan said. He said the Prime Minister's package will be implemented on time. On the occasion, chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said, "Over the past two decades, the advances in IT have been instrumental in shaping the economy and social fabric of our society." Mahanta said computers, communication and software were the key ingredients that have revolutionised the industrial sector. "Assam and the Northeast are besieged with problems like unemployment and insurgency; with the growth of IT sector, we are sure that educated youth will find employment," Mahanta said. The chief minister also requested Mahajan to start a city hub as soon as possible. Mahanta, who looks after the IT portfolio in the state, said entrepreneurs and first-time investors to the software technology park lack investment resources and would find it difficult to afford 64 kbps leased line connectivity individually because of its high cost. The chief minister suggested that it would help the entrepreneurs if connectivity could be provided at 9.6 kbps to each user by splitting the 64 kbps leased line on a time-sharing basis at least for the first six months.