Advertisment

IT@Kerala: Log on to a successful tech space

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

Kerala has offered incentives up to 40 per cent based on fixed capital investment, besides exemptions of stamp duty and registration to the prospective companies coming over, and industrial power tariffs to IT units and parks.

Advertisment

A separate IT park in Kochi, the Smart City with a Dubai-based company as promoters, a proactive andV.S. Achuthanandan, Chief Minister of Kerala supportive IT Policy, and successful implementation of projects based on Free Software are some of the achievements in the IT sector in Kerala during the last two years. V.S. Achuthanandan, Kerala’s Chief Minister, who also holds the IT portfolio, carries with him the dreams of the man on the street.

“Apart from futuristic parks, we have the best IT-ITeS trained manpower, 75 per cent savings on start-up and operational costs, a strong datacom backbone and above all, a quality of life that is virtually world class,” says VS, as he is fondly called by his comrades.

The Kerala Chief Minister interacts with Anil Philip on the achievements of the ministry, its performance and goals. Excerpts:

Advertisment

How do you rate the performance of the IT Ministry under your leadership?

A quantum jump in the IT sector could be achieved within the past two years. To start with, the Government had formulated a comprehensive pro-investor IT Policy for the State.

Once in power, the LDF had to go for what it had been pursuing about the Smart City deal when it was in the Opposition. Modifications in favor of the State could be made in the terms with TECOM (the Dubai-based promoters). We could retain Infopark (the existing IT Park in Kochi), reject the conditions of exclusivity, enhance the number of direct jobs offered to 90,000 and retain the land with the State.

Advertisment

Kerala became the first Indian state to switch public computing to Linux and abandon proprietary platforms. Projects are being implemented to make the State totally computer literate. We are approaching a target of establishing more than 3000 Akshaya Kendras (e-governance project) as service delivery outlets through out the state. It is beyond the scope of this interview to review the entire progress in IT sector.

What is the investment that the State IT sector has received during this period?

An investment of Rs 1200 crore has come in during the last two years. Software exports from the state have exceeded Rs 1200 crore.

Advertisment

According to the STPI, this is a 60 per cent growth rate and probably Kerala is the only State to achieve this growth rate during this period. More and more companies are coming in.

Since 2006, 41 companies have started functioning in Technopark and Infopark. A total of 35 lakh sq.ft. built-up area has been completed.

What is the current status of the Smart City project?

Advertisment

Everything has been cleared for establishing Smart City in Kochi. Smart City has appointed a Business Development Manager for its operations. Work has started and is on schedule.

How successful have you been in taking IT and ITeS to smaller towns/cities?

Professional services firm PwC has submitted their study report on IT Parks. In the mean time, Government convened meetings with District Collectors, Secretaries of Revenue, Forest, and Industries to identify the most suitable locations.

Advertisment

Now, in five Districts, land has been identified and procedure has been initiated to acquire/transfer it to the IT infrastructure company.

There has been a misconception that IT companies will be reluctant in setting up their campuses away from metros. Major IT companies have shown their willingness to start industry any where in Kerala if road, rail connectivity, running water and electricity are ensured.

No big names have come to Technopark in the last two years. Do you feel it’s being neglected as the focus has been on the Smart City project?

Advertisment

Of course, Microsoft or Intel has not set-up their campus in Technopark. Smaller companies who are capable of achieving high exports and providing more jobs are working there. Infosys, IBS, NeST, UST Global, etc. are few among the 140 companies in Technopark who are doing well.

Once Smart City and Techno City are on the rails, you will see the big names are on the list. There is however, an issue with Technopark regarding good connectivity. We are looking at ways to improve connectivity especially at this phase of development and expansion.

What is the progress on Techno City, Technopark Phase II and Infopark?

Acquisition of 507 acres is in progress for establishing the IT Township, Techno City, in Thiruvananthapuram. Technopark sees a development where another 100 acres of land is being acquired. Many IT companies have already started new ventures in Technopark and Infopark.

We have a target to create two lakh job opportunities in the IT sector. 40,000 more job opportunities will be generated within next three years at Infopark, the very institution that was decided to be handed over free of cost by the previous government.

Nasscom has suggested an IIIT at Thiruvananthapuram on a PPP model. When will you start working on this?

The Government is yet to take a decision on this.

The State has been in the forefront of the Open Software movement with many successful projects like IT@School and Oruma. Does it help them to have a Left Govt. in power?

As mentioned earlier, the State IT Policy shows a clear inclination towards Free Software. That doesn’t mean that Proprietary Software will be banned in Kerala or Proprietary companies will have no space here. It is a philosophy that leads the society to progress. Knowledge should be free. People should be free to use software in all the ways that are socially useful. It has nothing to do with the LDF coming into power or retaining it in power.

And finally, do you personally use computers or Internet?

Strictly speaking, I am not very comfortable with the machine. Now when it became essential, I am not getting enough time to learn and master it. I have observed that it is easy for youngsters to learn technology than people like me. That is why we have decided to introduce Information Technology in Primary Schools.

(Image courtesy: Information & Public Relations Department, Kerala)

tech-news