Kerala unveils new IT policy
Wednesday, 13 June 2007, 19:30 IST
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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Wednesday unveiled the state's new IT policy that has incentives for fresh investors in the field of IT. The biggest incentive is that subsidies for investment in IT in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi have been increased from 20 to 40 percent. These two districts have the highest concentration of IT units in the state and subsidies here have been hiked from 20 to 30 percent. A feature of the new policy is that Kerala could soon become the headquarters of free software industry. Achuthanandan said sops would not be limited to major investors but would be extended to small and medium IT players as well. The policy also stated that all major offices in the state and educational institutions would be networked. Malayalam would be used extensively in the computerisation process and would be included to ensure the uplift of all sections of society through IT. The policy aims at ensuring that the benefits of IT reach the common man through all government offices. A new Technology Fund would be set up for research and development in IT and a finishing school would be established for those who complete their studies in the field. Achuthanandan also released Kerala's new Industrial Policy, which focuses on the state's public sector enterprises. "We hope to convert loss making units into break even units and we will do whatever possible to achieve that," Achuthanandan said.
Source: IANS
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