Centre takes up Rs 220-cr IT project in NE

AGARTALA, July 19: An ambitious Rs 220-crore project has been taken up by the Union Government to establish information technology network in all the 446 blocks in the seven north-eastern states and Sikkim, reports UNI. Stating this state's Information Technology, Industry and Commerce Minister Pabitra Kar told newsmen here today that in the first phase, 25 blocks of the seven Northeastern states would be covered during this year. Of the 25 blocks, 12 were in Assam, three in Tripura and two each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Kar said the state government recognised the importance IT education had for the development of IT industry. IT policy focussed primarily on promotion of IT education in the state and proposed to start IT's advanced courses in different educational institutions in Tripura and also encourage private agencies to establish training institutions not only in Agartala, but in other parts of the state. The IT policy also gave stress on introduction of IT in the government sector and computerisation of different government activities. The state government was in the process of identifying key governmental activities that could be computerised. The objective was not only improved revenue collection and better financial management but also better citizen-government interface. The state government proposed to start a state-wide computer network with the assistance of the IT ministry, linking all blocks to the state headquarters. Kar said the Government also planned to provide computers in all secondary and higher secondary schools. It was proposed to take up the project on a pilot basis and a request had been made to the Union Minister of Information Technology for its sanction on priority basis, he said. Setting up of a software technology park at Agartala was the top priority for the state government, he said.