Date:08/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/08/stories/2005120802930400.htm

Back `IT not elitist; offers big gains to masses'

Our Bureau

Kolkata , Dec. 7

THE government and the information technology (IT) community have failed to inform people adequately about the pervasiveness and benefits of information and communications technology (ICT); and this has resulted in IT being perceived as elitist, according to Mr Sridar Iyengar, President of TiE Global.

Speaking at a session on "IT Everyday for Everyone" at Infocom 2005 Conference and Exhibition, being organised here jointly by Businessworld and Nasscom, Mr Sridar Iyengar said, "IT is not elitist. Everything around us uses IT as a platform. We have not been able to explain adequately to people how IT is helping them." He also stressed the benefits of IT applications in diverse fields, such as the services sector, education, healthcare, e-governance, manufacturing, etc.

Mr Bhaskar Pramanik, Managing Director of Sun Microsystems, said the world had moved from the information age to the "participation age". ICT, globally as also in India, was being driven by participation. And participation was being facilitated by access and affordability. Mr Pramanik said participation on the network was blurring boundaries and it was participation in the network that was providing a boost to economic and social progress.