Govt to focus on IT hardware manufacturing

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Government has identified growth of electronics and IT hardware manufacturing as a thrust area, said President Pratibha Patil.

“A special scheme has been announced to encourage semiconductor fabrication and other micro and nano technology manufacturing industries,” said Patil, in her address to the joint sitting of the two houses of the Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session on Monday.

“The National e-Governance Plan, to make Government transparent and citizen-friendly, is at an advanced stage of implementation all over the country. Use of IT in about 13,000 district and subordinate courts across the country has been initiated."

"An Integrated National Knowledge Network to provide gigabit broadband connectivity will be set up to connect all institutions of higher learning and research in the country,” Patil informed.

“The Parliament convenes at a time when the economy is on the move. My Government remains firmly committed to ensuring that the economic growth process is socially inclusive, regionally balanced and environmentally sustainable,” she said.

“Bharat Nirman has sought to connect rural India to growth opportunities through connectivity to roads, electricity and telephones. During this period the target for telephone connectivity to all villages has almost been met, with only 14,000 villages remaining to be connected as of December 2007. Rural tele-density has improved dramatically,” Patil said.

“The Indian telecom sector has emerged as the fastest growing in the world with the addition of over 7 million subscribers per month. A scheme has been launched to provide support for setting up and managing telecom infrastructure in rural areas to affordably and quickly expand mobile telecom services,” she added.

“The Special Economic Zones promoted by government have already provided direct employment to about 100,000 persons, with indirect employment estimated at twice as much. They have attracted investment of over Rs 50,000 crore, and are expected to generate exports of Rs 67,000 crore this year,” she said.

“Government has placed great emphasis on science and technology development, substantially increasing financial support to S&T in the 11th Plan. A Nano Technology Mission has been launched,” Patil informed.