The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Forum's `dormancy' hits IT prospects of Mysore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 28, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Forum's `dormancy' hits IT prospects of Mysore

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, JULY 27. Though the State Government has adopted a policy to promote information technology (IT) in secondary cities of the State including Mysore, the "dormancy" of the Mysore IT Forum has crippled the growth of the IT sector in the city.

The forum, which comprises a group of IT professionals from the city, evolved an action plan a little over two years ago to transform Mysore into a virtual IT hub.

MysoreIT.com

Hopes soared high after the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, inaugurated MysoreIT.com in 2002.

The forum, which took over from DealIT (Dealers in IT products) as the organisers of the event, basked in the glory of the success of MysoreIT.com 2002.

But the forum suddenly became dormant for various reasons just when the reputation of Mysore as an alternative IT destination started growing. The clear absence of a proactive approach by the forum saw 2003 pass without a MysoreIT.com.

With more than half of 2004 already over, there is little indication that the event will be held this year. While the schedule for BangaloreIT.com has already been drawn up, no groundwork has been done so far as far as MysoreIT.com 2004 is concerned.

"If things continue like this, 2004 will also pass by without a MysoreIT.com," feared an IT observer in Mysore.

Plan

However, a member of the forum, Narendra, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Comat Infoscribe, told The Hindu that efforts were underway to chalk out a plan of action to hold the event.

IT observers in Mysore attribute the suspension in the activities of the forum to the relocation of two key persons of the group to places outside Mysore.

"The then Chairman of the forum, Shivaram, and the Head of Infosys, Mysore unit, Ravi, moved out of Mysore, leading to a suspension in the group's activities," pointed out an IT observer.

Holding of events such as MysoreIT.com is widely expected to not only shore up the city's identity as an IT destination but also bring considerable business to existing players.

Dasara

"Just like BangaloreIT.com which coincides with the Rajyothsava Day celebrations, MysoreIT.com should be scheduled with the annual Dasara celebrations," opined an IT observer.

Many IT observers in the city are convinced that Mysore has a huge potential for the growth of the IT industry.

M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda, Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, Department of Information Technology, had opined that Mysore could be an ideal location for business process outsourcing (BPO) and IT companies.

During his recent visit to the city, Mr. Gowda met entrepreneurs in software development, BPO, and electronic hardware manufacturing companies in Mysore and discussed plans for the development of the IT sector.

With 31 IT companies registered with the Software Technology Park of India exporting software worth Rs. 180 crores during 2003-04, the prospects of Mysore as an IT destination appear bright, many IT experts believe.

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