Rajasthan unveils a new IT and ITES Policy

DQC News Bureau

Mumbai:The Government of Rajasthan has announced a new IT policy, which was
unveiled by the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at the 'IT Day' celebrations
on December 1st.

Industry leaders present at the occasion welcomed the new policy and
projected a huge boost to the economic activity in the state including creation
of upto 20,000 jobs in the next 12 months and more in the coming years.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Raje said, “The new IT policy
comes at an opportune time when the industry and business community have
recognized Rajasthan as an ideal location for their investments. IT sector has
been one of our focus areas. In a short span of three years several leading IT
companies such as Infosys, Wipro, Nagaro, Tech Mahindra, Genpact have come and
established their presence in Rajasthan in response to success of our efforts.”

She further added, “Going forward, the new policy will ensure further
investments into the IT sector and compliment the rapid industrialization
process and provide a conducive atmosphere for Rajasthan to become one of most
IT enabled states in the country. Most importantly, it will result in employment
opportunities and better delivery of public services to the people of Rajasthan.
While Jaipur is currently leading the IT movement in Rajasthan, in the coming
months, we will witness Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Udaipur
equally participating in the spread of IT and ITES sector”.

“We will pay special attention to creation of a IT savvy human resources
pool for the benefit of IT and ITES sector. To this effect, we will soon be
setting up the 'Rajasthan Knowledge Corporation'. We are committed to give
all the requisite support to the IT sector for realization of the vision
provided by the new IT policy”, Raje indicated.

CK Mathew, Principal Secretary, IT and C, elaborating on the policy said, “Our
new policy aims to leverage Information and Communications Technology as a tool
for improving governance and public services delivery, create a favorable
environment for investment into the IT & ITES sector and to build a quality
talent pool in Rajasthan”.

As per the new IT policy IT and ITES units have been declared as public
utility services. The State government will permit software units to be set up
in residential areas and private IT unit and IT park developers will be given
assistance for land procurement and changes in land use. Also all new IT
industry units will be given 50 percent exemption on electricity for seven areas
as and where relevant and an incentive of Rs 2000 per candidate will be provide
to training centers whose candidates find placement after successful training
and communications and soft skills. There would also be reimbursement of the IT
Patent filing costs, exemptions under labor laws and steps to strengthen IT
infrastructure for e-governance. There would be an effort to promote use of
internet and availability of broadband connectivity in all state government
offices and the budgetary outlay for IT expenditure on a year on year basis will
be doubled by the year 2009-10. In fact a separate budget head has been created
for statewide IT enablement.

Meanwhile the government will consider fee-based partnerships with empanelled
international consultancy firms and investment promotion agencies and IT
companies will be allowed for self-certification on various acts including labor
and industrial laws.