Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday laid foundation for Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) at Adityapur and Dhanbad on Saturday, while an MoU was signed for setting up of software park in Bokaro and Deoghar. The first STPI of Jharkhand is in Ranchi.
“A fact that is aptly proven by the stupendous growth in exports by STP units from Rs52 crore in 1992-93 to more than Rs3 lakhs crore in 2015-16. STPI has also played a phenomenal role in promoting Tier-II/Tier-III cities of the country. Out of 55 STPI centres, 47 are in Tier-II and Tier-III locations with an objective of an uniform and overall development of IT/ITES exports across the country,” the Union Minister said in his address.
The upcoming STPI centres would act as a resource centre for IT/ITES exporting units by offering general infrastructural facilities like ready to use incubation facility, High Speed Data Communication (HSDC) with uninterrupted data connectivity and other amenities required for export of software & services. The new facility would be operational within 24 months and stimulate to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for the IT educated masses of this region, Prasad said.
He further said that STPI has also been instrumental in promoting IT exports from State of Jharkhand since inception of STPI-Ranchi in the year 2006.
Software parks will cater to the needs of IT Industry and also to boost the entrepreneurship and IT exports from the State of Jharkhand, said the Minister.
While celebrating Vikash Parv, the Union Minister added, working closely with all the stakeholders STPI has played a key role in creating Brand India and transforming the country as most preferred IT destination.
Praising the Jharkhand Government, Prasad said Raghubar Das has taken initiative to end corruption which is a very fruitful step and it is through IT that the Central Government has saved Rs36,000 crore in the last two years.
“Jharkhand is moving on the paths of development and IT will play a major role in the growth of the State. IT is our Government’s priority and we have set up an aim to make Jharkhand an IT hub,” said Das, adding, “Sotware exports from the State of Jharkhand which is recorded at Rs45 crore during the 2015-16 with culminative exports of over Rs100 crore has brought the State in the IT map of the country.”
The CM further said to curb students and professionals from Jharkhand, who have immense talent, leaving the State for employment in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, the State Government has identified 200 acre land in Ranchi for setting up an IT hub. Besides, the State Government will set up regional training centres all across the State.
“With support of the Union IT Minister every village of Jharkhand will be connected to the Internet by 2017,” added the CM.
State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Saryu Roy said the opening of new STPI in very short period shows the Centre’s commitment towards IT growth in Jharkhand.
At the event, the CM and the Union Minister also launched the website of IIIT Ranchi. The Union Minister also inaugurated the first Wi-Fi Panchayat of Jharkhand in Bokaro district while handed over Aadhar cards to three disabled children.