Nasscom chief wants cheaper software

BHOPAL: Expressing apprehensions over expensive proprietary software

hindering the spread of IT in India, the Nasscom chief, Dr Kiran Karnik, has

stated that the industrial body was in talks with several software manufacturers

to bring down costs, at least in the third world countries.

Speaking to newspersons in Bhopal, Karnik said the prohibitive cost was

proving to be a deterrent for the common man and hence he suggested that

software firms should at least provide concessions to those used in educational

institutions and hospitals.

This apart, Nasscom was also perturbed by the sub-standard quality of IT

education being imparted by fly-by-night operators in India, and had suggested

certain measures to standardize the education imparted.

Dr Karnik was in Bhopal to address an UNDP-sponsored seminar on

decentralization and was addressing on behalf of the Forum for Information

Technology Awareness (FITA). The FITA comprises a group of professionals

committed to spread of Information Technology in the country.

Dwelling on the performance of the software industry, he belied fears of a

downslide in the fortunes of Indian industry. "Studies for the first

quarter this fiscal show that the growth had recorded 52 per cent over the

corresponding period in the previous year," he said and expressed hope that

the situation would stabilize in the next few months.

However, Karnik admitted that the Indian software industry needed to improve

in several areas, to move up the value chain. "As part of its efforts,

Nasscom is pushing to brand the Indian IT industry as one single entity,"

he said. For the spread of IT revolution in India, it is imperative that

hardware becomes cheaper, he added.

As a first step in this direction, the Union Government should relax excise

duty and the state sales tax. Basic infrastructure like power and connectivity

also needs to be improved. Nasscom will shortly put together a team to provide

technological assistance to state governments that are keen in computerizing

their departments.

India could become a software giant if it explores new markets and develops

simplified, user-friendly software. Dr Karnik also stressed the need for

software development in local languages to enhance the reach of computers among

the public.