E-governance spurts desktop sales in public sector

Bhaskar Hazarika






NEW DELHI: The government's initiative on connecting the country through
e-governance program is likely to shoot the rate of desktop buyers in the next

two years.






Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT) in its industry
performance review stated that the number of desktop buyers in the government

sector will increase due to the e-governance program roll-out.






The industry performance review 2005-2006 revealed that consumption in
government sector has increased by 33 per cent. Vinnie Mehta, Executive

Director, MAIT said that compared to other three sectors- factory locations,

office locations and outlets, the number of desktop buyers in the government

sector is low. According to the survey the government sector contributed 3 per

cent among the desktop buyers.






“This sector will see a steady growth in the number of desktop buyers in the as
the government is initiating the e-government program. With the penetration of

kiosks and personal computers in the rural areas, this sector will witness a

steady growth in the next 2 years,” Mehta said. Consumption in the factory

locations grew by 46 per cent, retail outlets recorded a growth of 127 per cent.






Dayanidhi Maran, Minister for Communications and IT had announced that HRD
Minister Arjun Singh has proposed for broadband connectivity to the Secondary

and Higher Secondary schools in the country by 2007. All public health care

centers and Gram Panchayats would also be provided broadband coverage, which

would give boost to the desktop sales.






Mehta said that the sales of notebook is also likely to grow more with the
education institutes making its compulsory for students to own a notebook. “Most

of the colleges and educational institutes have made it mandatory for students

to have a notebook, which will add more to the number of notebook sales in the

country. Not only the management institutes, other educational institutes are

also insisting on one notebook for one student,” Mehta said.






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