IIIT to be established in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government plans to establish an Indian Institute of

Information Technology (IIIT) in Jaipur, in collaboration with an US-based

Non-Resident Indian. In this regard, the State Government has offered free land

and Rs 10 crore-fund for establishing the institute. The State is already in

touch with the Central Government for assistance in this venture.

"The institute would be set up with the help of Mukesh Chatar, a

US-based NRI, who has established an IT firm in the USA with a high market

rating", said a senior official of State's industries department.

Chatar had attended the NRI Rajasthanis' Conference at Jaipur in September

2000, where the Chief Minister had requested him to establish such an institute

in the capital. This is part of the state government’s endeavor to leverage

the benefits of IT to the common masses, said a senior official of the State's

IT department. In a bid to encourage the growth of IT sector in Rajasthan, the

State has already formulated a comprehensive IT policy.

The policy has called for several tax holidays and incentives that will help

the State, in the long run, to become an attractive destination for IT

investments. The State Government also plans to establish integrated IT centers

in all the district headquarters by 2005.

As part of the initiative to popularize the use of computers, the State also

proposes to make computer education compulsory in all graduate degree courses by

2003, he added.