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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY
West Bengal
has been one of India’s fastest growing states in the
last decade, with a 5.2% growth in per capita net SDP.
Over the three year period (between 1998-99 and and
2000-01), it has also ranked as the fifth most
attractive destination
for investments. Going forward, the state has
identified IT as a priority focus sector to be
developed into a growth engine. This focus is
reflected in the fact that West Bengal was among the
first states to articulate an IT policy (formalised on
1st Jan, 2000). This was followed by a
special incentive scheme introduced in November 2001.
In recent
times, there has been explosive growth in the
IT-Enabled Services
segment, which has recorded over 100 per cent growth
in employees in the last 5
years. And it is expected to grow much faster than IT
services in the short term. This nascent opportunity,
coupled with the specific needs of the ITeS companies,
has prompted the Government of West Bengal to
articulate a focused ITeS policy (formalised in August
2002).
Core
objective of the new IT Policy
The State has
developed the new IT policy keeping in mind the
enhanced opportunities that IT will unleash over the
next decade. These opportunities will allow
corporates to create immense value, provide
significant opportunities for talent development and
employment, and enhance efficiencies in governance and
social service. Therefore, the core objective of the
new IT policy is to allow different constituents
within the State to leverage this opportunity.
The
aspirations of the State’s IT initiative are composite
and well-rounded. The focus will not be limited to
making the State the most attractive destination for
IT investments. In addition, the State will leverage
the IT opportunity for upliftment of the quality of
life within the State.
In light of
the new ITeS policy and the progress made by the State
in the last three years, the Government feels the need
to revise the existing IT policy to continue to
underline the focus on the IT sector as well as give
it new direction. Consequently, this policy document
has been created to reflect the needs of the IT sector
as a whole. It also highlights the progress made by
the state since the January 2000 policy and defines
additional regulatory support measures to boost the
growth of IT in the state. This policy complements the
new ITeS policy by focusing in detail on the IT
services segment. Hence it should be read in
conjunction with the new ITeS policy as well as the
incentive scheme of November 2001.
This document
explains the new IT policy and consists of four
sections:
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1. |
Information
Technology in public life |
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2. |
West Bengal’s IT
vision |
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3. |
Its winning
position on the enablers required to succeed in
the sector (with specific reference to the IT
services sector) |
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4. |
The regulatory support offered to
investors.
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