Microsoft to help Orissa IT projects take off

Thursday, 19 February 2004, 20:30 IST
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BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa government is teaming up with IT giant Microsoft to help develop the state as a software power. Microsoft will set up a centre of excellence and develop software in Oriya, said R.K. Mallu of the directorate of information technology. "The state government has already held several rounds of discussions with top Microsoft officials and they are ready to help us," Mallu told IANS. A memorandum of understanding between the two parties will be signed Thursday, he said. Set up in the Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC) premises, the proposed centre of excellence will impart training and provide Microsoft certified courses. OCAC is also planning to get the necessary training from Microsoft to implement various IT projects, including computerisation of the police crime branch and improvement of the government's portal, Mallu said. Microsoft has already developed centres of excellence in several other Indian states, including Uttaranchal, Punjab, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. "We will also develop language software in Oriya, which will be used in MS windows, and MS office and other packages," the official said. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has created a separate department for IT and instructed officials to become IT literate. The state government has decided to encourage strategic alliances with other companies like Oracle and Sun Micro Systems. The state government has plans to establish national level institutes in areas like e-governance, e-commerce, networking, multimedia and animation, said IT department secretary Asit Tripathy.
Source: IANS
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