Building an IT nation a huge challenge: Dr. Sam Pitroda

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Manufacturing Association of Information Technology (MAIT) released a report, along with KPMG, suggesting there is a need to boost the personal computer (PC) sales. The report says, India is lagging behind, with only 10 percent PC sales in the household segment, from other countries like China, Russia and Malaysia.

In order to enhance the PC sales MAIT recommends to reduce the excise duty on hardware to 6 percent. It also suggested significant steps such as bringing down the hardware cost by 43 percent with the help of the Government subsidies.

The report estimates that in FY 2014-18, there could be an augment in sales of desktop and notebook from 6 percent to 18 percent CAGR contributing additional GDP of Rs. 66,300 crore, and taxes of Rs. 25,000 crore.

Anwar Shirpurwala, executive director, MAIT, said: "Increasing the penetration of PCs would not only contribute to the economic drivers, but a better IT infrastructure would lead to life augmentation that would help consumers as well as the Government. On the whole, this would enhance India's face in the race with the other developed nations of the world. To build an IT nation is indeed a huge challenge."

Dr. Sam Pitroda, adviser to the Prime Minister, Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations, Government of India, said: "We are very well versed with the bottlenecks like the lack of logistics, lack of infrastructure and lack of sound policy. We have surpassed that first phase, and it's time to take action in the second phase. We recognise the importance of information technology (IT). We are a nation of a connected billions."

"It's high time we start extending the reach of PCs to masses who can experience the benefits of computing and connectivity," added Debjani Ghosh, VP MAIT.