:: Department Of IT,Madhya Pradesh ::

(beta version)

Seamless Society with Global Opportunities

Chief minister firm belief that in the era of knowledge economy, the might of Information Technology should be harnessed not just for creating a few individual dollar-billionaires and some more individual dollar-millionaires, but for the real empowerment and growth of the millions of our masses shapes the core vision for this sector in Madhya Pradesh.

All the steps taken by the state government in the field of Information Technology have been oriented towards this goal. It is in consonance with this vision, that the state has chosen for itself the role of an enabling facilitator. Leaving the field wide open for the private sector enterprise, imagination and energy to tap the entire range of opportunities that have opened up as the nation moves on the global stage to occupy its rightful frontline position in an increasingly knowledge driven economy.

That this vision is not merely a declaration of pious intent, but is an article of faith to be lived through in every day life has been amply demonstrated over the years. The international recognition in the form of the Stockholm Challenge Award for the year 2000-for the Gyandoot project of the tribal dominated Dhar district is a testimony to the initial success of this vision.

It is this internationally recognized success of the vision of IT for millions that forms the bedrock of the growth of the range of business opportunities for everyone in Madhya Pradesh in the field of Information Technology. More significantly, the state has the infrastructure to propel this growth. It also has the right academic atmosphere to sustain its growing manpower needs.

IT AIMS

1 The vision statement for the State’s IT Policy is the creation of a "Seamless Society with Global Opportunities". The Statement implies that there should be no islands of elitism or conclaves of wisdom in the information society of the future - where access to information and knowledge would be symmetric among all seekers and users. Every citizen must feel comfortable in accessing information through the facility of Technology - whether directly or where essential through public or private intermediaries. It is to create such a confident society of the future that human resources should be developed in the State.

2 The State would aim for contributing 5% to 10% of the IT output of the country by the year 2008. This would translate into employment opportunities for between Four hundred Thousand to One Million persons in IT related activities.

3 To make Madhya Pradesh a lead IT State in India by the year 2003,the State aims to provide cost effective infrastructure, and transparent and responsive governance based on a high level of stability in policies in the medium and long term.

4 The State has set a target of providing information access to all citizens at an affordable cost and for achieving IT literacy in all the High Schools and Colleges by the year 2003 and aims to do so in all the schools by the year 2008. IT penetration would be achieved through aiming for an optimistic average of one internet connection per 100 population and coverage of every habitat by 2003.

5 Computerization in Government departments and agencies must be the engine of growth of IT in Madhya Pradesh, in the initial period. An optimistic goal for computer penetration in the Government, its organizations including the Panchayat Raj Institutions and other local self Government institutions has been kept at one per ten employees by the year 2003, raised to one per five employees by the year 2005 and finally to one per two employees by the year 2008.

6 A targeted share of 10% of the national IT output by the time frame indicated earlier, i.e. the year 2008 would be in the region of appx. Rs. 42000 crores and would require a direct private sector investment of the order of Rs. 4500 crores appx. Such a scale of economic activity is possible if the intermediate mile stones are in the region of appx. Rs. 200 crores or so in year 2001 and a four fold growth in investments by the year 2003, leading to output of approximately Rs. 1700 crores by 2001 and appx. Rs. 6500 crores by year 2003.

7 The targeted share in national IT output would also be reflected in the aim for a share in the software exports in the region of Rs. 300 crores in year 2001 and Rs. 2900 crores or more by year 2003 and Rs. 28000 crores by year 2008.

8 The State Domestic Product (SDP) is currently growing at the rate of 5.50% annually; and the share of IT in the Madhya Pradesh SDP is appx. 0.2% or appx. Rs. 100 crores. Assuming pessimistically that the SDP in all other sectors would grow at the current rate, a goal of achieving a 10% share in the national output would translate to roughly one-third of the SDP being contributed by IT.

9 The State aims to provide employment opportunities in the range of Four Hundred Thousand to One Million by the year 2008 engaged in the IT related activities. An estimated sixty percent of the jobs could come from services, of which some 20% would be low skilled data entry jobs and the balance from the growth of internet related services such as information kiosks in urban and rural areas. Software development could give employment to another 20%, trade and commerce could contribute 10%, and the rest of the employment opportunities could be contributed by training related jobs and jobs relating to communications and hardware maintenance.