Government patroge sought to boost IT industry in State

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 3: A delegation of the Axom Society for Software Services Companies (ASSSCOM) met IT Minister Keshab Mahta recently and raised a few proposals in front of him so as to boot the IT sector in the State. In a statement issued to the press today, ASSCOM said: “We have apprised the minister of the problems we are facing in the State. We’ve made it a point that Assam is lagging behind in industries even after various industries get a whole lot of sops under the North East Industrial Promotion Policy (NEIPP). In contrast to that, without any government patroge, ASSSCOM could provide employment avenues to 15,000 youths in the State, besides setting up industries worth Rs 350 crore in the State. Though we can’t compete with the developed IT companies located elsewhere in the country, if the government helps us out in principle, the IT industries in the State can be boosted to a world-level industry.” The delegation submitted a memorandum to the minister comprising proposals like (i) fixing a benchmark in buying IT-hardware and IT-software, (2) tendering should be done in accordance with CVC guidelines, (3) adherence to NSIC Act, 2006, (4) declaring Assam as a specialized economic zone (SEZ) so that Assam can compete with other States in IT sector and (5) drawing an IT police in the State.