Major emphasis on bringing Electronics and Information Technology companies to the State: Tusharkanti Behera

Bhubaneswar:4/3/23: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik firmly believes that the future of Odisha is on a knowledge-based economy, so there has been a major emphasis on bringing Electronics and Information Technology companies to the State, said E&IT Minister Tusharkanti Behera here on Saturday.

Briefing the media about the highlights of E&IT Department Budget 2023-24 at Geeta Gobinda Sadan along with E&IT Department Principal Secretary Manoj Kumar Mishra, the Minister said the State Government has approved 4 new policies, namely IT/ITeS Policy, Electronics Policy, Data Centre Policy and BPO Policy. These policies are among the best in the country and expected to attract significant investment. This year budget allocation of E&IT Department is of Rs. 356 crore, he said.

In the last few months, the Government has been able to realize the investment intents signed during the Make in Odisha Conclave. IBM, Deloitte, Happiest Minds, Incture, Innovare Technologies, Opex America, Yovant and many other IT companies have already opened their centres in Odisha, which is likely to generate an employment of over 12,500. Many other companies will also soon be starting their operations in the State. These initiatives are likely to generate an estimated additional employment of 24,000.

The Government has taken a significant decision to reduce lease rentals to Rs. 20 per square feet for IT companies in the State owned IT towers which have made Odisha a preferred IT destination. To add to the momentum, the Government also plans to create 2 million square feet of ready built space with plug and play facility for IT/ESDM companies. This will further attract the IT companies and provide employment to the youth.

The government will initiate an ambitious O-CHIP Programme (Odisha Chip Programme) with an investment of Rs. 30 crore to create an ecosystem in the field of Electronics design and manufacturing. It will be a government supported CoE (Centre of Excellence) that will have top rated industry association and academicians from top research under one umbrella, which will create more than 5000 high end jobs in near future.

To make citizens of Odisha digital ready, Odisha for AI programme is to be initiated. Under this program, AI city clusters will be created and training will be provided to all eligible and interested people.

All government officials will also be provided AI training for capacity building. Puri-Bhubaneswar-Cuttack has been envisioned as India’s first AI cluster.

E&IT Department Principal Secretary Manoj Mishra said that an undersea cable landing station at Puri is being planned to make data reliable and affordable. This Landing Station will invigorate the Data Centre, Entertainment, telecom and Fin Tech markets. Odisha thus can become the Digital hub for East, Central and North East India, he said.

Basic digital infrastructure has already been created in 133 blocks of the State and the Government has now made a provision of Rs. 26.6 crore for internet leased line at the Block level which will considerably improve digital accessibility for citizens in rural areas, he said.

1 Gbps high-bandwidth will also be provided to all GP’s for facilitating VC at GP level nearby Government institutions such as schools and hospitals. This will enable enhanced delivery of content and development of smart school programs. It will considerably reduce rural and urban disparity in broadband connectivity, the E&IT Principal Secretary added.