JOIN USLeveraging from its already launched Rural BPO scheme, the government is all set to facilitate the creation of IT based employment in rural areas with a population of less than one lakh.
According to a new policy, rural BPOs will be commercial units wholly owned by private entrepreneurs, while the government will act as a facilitator providing fiscal incentives or subsidies.
Disclosing the plan to Deccan Herald Principal Secretary IT, BT & ST Ashok Kumar C Manoli said: “We want IT development in other parts of the State and not centred only in Bangalore. We want IT should penetrate into rural areas for inititating massive development.”
According to a Nasscom study, domestic BPO market is expected to grow at 40 per cent and Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities offer huge talent pool and cost advantage for companies. The State government initiative for setting up Rural BPOs attracted 101 applications. The screening commitee headed by Director-IT recommended four applications in Srirangapatna (Mandya), Salegame (Hassan), Gundlupet (Chamrajnagar) and Shiggaon (Haveri) on June 22, 2009.
The companies are Mpro Solutions, Arman Infotech, Intech and Mindglow Software. They will start their operations by August 2009.
Other initiatives
The government is in talks with companies like Intel and other Internet service providers for taking broadband connectivity into villages and schools. The government has plans to set up e-PCO’s in rural areas providing single platform for e-commerce in rural areas and also promote Internet usage.
The government will establish digital libraries State-promoted IT parks and government schools. According to the rural IT policy announced in the budget, the government sanctioned setting up of IT parks in Mysore, Mangalore and Shimoga under the SEZ Act in PPP model the construction will start in September 2009. The other projects in Belgaum and Gulbarga will be starting later this year. These parks will be exclusively for IT and ITES business.