Information Technology (IT) giants will be exploring areas of cooperation between their companies and technical institutions in Jharkhand as the State Government solicited support of renowned companies in shaping careers of students and invited companies to take a pulse of the latent potential in the field of IT in the State.
An invitation letter to Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Satya Nadella has already been sent even as IT giants — CISCO Systems and Oracle — have been approached to seek their domain specific expertise in equipping students of higher and technical education with skills in demand in the IT industry.
While addressing the media, IT Secretary Sunil Kumar Baranwal said that steps are being made to connect institutions of higher and technical institutions with ‘national knowledge network’.
“A team from CISCO is coming and next week a team from Oracle is visiting the State. They (Microsoft) are sending a team in the leadership of Chairman of Microsoft India. We will explore their best technologies and how it can be best used in Jharkhand. This is very well in line with the direction to improve the quality of the technical institution in the State,” said Barnwal.
These companies would help the Government in understanding market requirements and guide institutions in setting up centres in technical institutions besides, facilitating certification examinations to increase employability of students.
To promote entrepreneurship in the State, a comprehensive Start-Up policy is on the cards which will promote start-ups in IT and other industries, offer financial support and will make provisions for the Government partner commercial activity build up on the ideas. The ideas that will be assisted by the Government would go through rigorous screening process to justify support.
The Government will earmark funds from next financial year under the sub-head ‘start-up venture fund’. New IT and ITeS policy is also likely to be framed as per the needs of the fast growing sector. The policy is likely to be ready by March, 2016.
“We want to signal the market that efforts are being made to build start-up culture and if anyone wants to try new ideas then he is most welcome to do so. We have received request from people running companies in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Silicon Valley. They have ideas about what to do so that Jharkhand develops. They are inquiring about steps being taken by government,” added Barnwal.
The IT department is also contemplating development of unused areas of Government buildings to facilitate IT companies in starting their services even as IT parks and similar infrastructure is being conceived for attracting companies in the long run. The department’s infrastructure development programmes comprise setting aside space for large IT City and developing IT park in Adityapur. Besides, Software Technology Park of India building is being developed at Jamshedpur, Sindri, Bokaro and Deoghar.
Barnwal expressed that by the 2017-18 the department would provide broadband connectivity in all panchayats whereas till July, 2016 all panchayats will be equipped with limited connectivity (3G network).