Date:27/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/27/stories/2005042707541900.htm

Business

`Mission mode projects key to boost PC usage'

Special Correspondent

The Government must consider a roadmap for attracting IT manufacturing investments India would be able to achieve the levels prevailing in China in the next three to four years.

NEW DELHI: The high-power working committee on improving PC penetration, Internet and domestic software in the country has suggested the launch of several mission mode projects in order to equal the penetration rate of China over the next four years.

The report, submitted to the Union Minister for Communications and IT, Dayanidhi Maran, here on Tuesday, has suggested mission oriented approach in areas such as IT enabled teaching and IT teaching in education; IT deployment for economic development in rural India; telemedicine; affordable computing for homes and small and medium business enterprises; e-governance; joint industry-government IT usage promotion program. The report said in order to achieve the objective, the Government must consider a roadmap for attracting IT manufacturing investments in the country. This approach would eventually lead to not only a vibrant domestic manufacturing industry but also substantial exports.

The report stresses on the urgent need to implement the recommendations and the mission mode projects, as they are critical not only for national development but essential to reach the target levels of IT penetration in the country.

Also, the recommendations are interlinked and the desired multiplier affect can be had only once these are implemented in totality, in a synchronised fashion.

Commenting on the report, Mr. Maran said, "This report will provide our Ministry with the necessary direction for the ensuing period. The mission mode projects identified in the report and also the models for low cost computing, especially for the homes, education sector and the small and medium businesses are the need of the hour. These will be examined and necessary steps will be taken to implement them.''

The committee felt that with the implementation of its recommendations, India would be able to achieve the levels prevailing in China in the next three to four years. India, by 2008, should achieve a PC penetration of 65 per 1,000 (existing 14 per 1,000); internet penetration of 40 per 1,000 (5 per 1,000); the domestic software industry, including local language applications and content industry, to grow seven-fold to Rs. 13,300 crores; and all villages to be made online for agricultural, healthcare and education services.