IT Scenario in Orissa

Information Technology (IT) is one of the most dominant and growing industry in the global economy today. The dynamic technological advancements in the Information Technology has reinforced the changes in the economy and social sector that are transforming the business and society. In view of this new kind of economy-information economy, the software development activity is expected to grow many folds in the coming years. This technology has resulted in the growing importance of the software services. No need to displace and rehabilitate the tribes and no need to earn money by selling the precious metals. Software industry can solve these issues upto some extent to boom our economy. The over-drafted state can be paid monthly regular salaries to the employees and spend more money in health, education and other developmental activities.

The effort for inviting IT industries was started by the government just after the globalization. Government of India has taken a step to promote the software exports from India to increase the global market share by creating Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) across the country. The first STPI of  Orissa was started in Bhubaneswar in 1992 with exports worth around Rs.2.3 million. At that time, the state had only four software development companies named, Lee&Nee, Shivam, DPS and Radiant. In the year 1997-98, some 25 companies including the software majors like Satyam and Infosys registered under the STPI. Every year the number of IT companies are increasing. Now more than 100 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under STP scheme and 200 non-STP units are established in different parts of Orissa.

In 2004-2005, the state accounted for an export revenue of Rs 4 billion rupees.  The software export amount was around Rs.3.19 billion in 2003- 2004 which was almost a billion higher than the export revenue of the previous year i.e. Rs.2.13 billion. The state is  confident of generating a revenue of Rs 7 billion and Rs 10 billion from software exports by the end of fiscal  2006-07 and 2007 -08.  Due to lack of lack of proper infrastructure and retrograde steps like strikes by trade unions compel the Orissa to occupy bottom position in this regard..

Infrastructure is one of the most important pre-requisites for fostering the growth of IT industry. As far as IT industry is concerned, it includes hi-tech habitant, bandwidth, optical fibre connectivity, satellite communication, modern airport, and international convention center. Ready availability of Hi-tech space with the required infrastructural amenities like built-in electrical and communication facilities, data ports, central air-conditioning etc will be a great incentive for IT companies to set up their offices on a fast track. It is the endeavor of the Orissa Government to facilitate creation of large extents of hi-tech space not only in and around Bhubaneswar but also in the important towns in the state. In this regard, STPI Bhubaneswar established IT parks like Infocity, Fortune Tower, Tower 2000 and STPI Complex. These IT Parks contain following infrastructure and amenities:

·        Uninterrupted power supply,

• Centrally air-condition.
• Fire detection and fighting system and lightning arrester.
• Separate Service Area for each module comprising of separate gents and ladies toilets and wash.
• High-speed data link through optic fibre cables from STPI-Bhubaneswar.
• Capsule and Service lift facilities.
• Protected covered parking in basement and ample open parking facility.
• Cafeteria and Conference Halls.
• Bank and ATM.

The oxygen of IT industry, the bandwidth is an electronic highway for the conduct of all human interactions in the new millennium. However, the state is still lying behind by international standards. Orissa government must take the lead in creating this mission-critical infrastructure by designing an attractive model for acquiring bandwidth in an economically viable manner. At the same time, the Government will promote the use of satellite communication systems to provide connectivity, especially to the remote locations in the State. The Government will also promote the use of wireless communication technologies to provide better communication services especially in the last mile. Besides that an modern airport is essential for speedy and convenient travel and cargo movement to international IT centers. It facilitates (i) travel of IT professionals to Silicon Valley and to other IT hubs of the world, (ii) Quick cargo movement of computer hardware produced by Hardware manufacturers to the International markets and (iii) Importing IT equipment required for research and development. The airport should have good connectivity to all the major cities with having good frequency. Another piece of essential infrastructure is the establishment of an International Convention Centre with facilities to host International IT exhibitions, Seminars and Conferences.

The development of IT industry in a region is an evolutionary process. This continuous process of evolution needs a continuity also in the policy environment, which , in turn, depends on the socio-economic environment.

The creation of confidence in society in the capability of IT to manage its day to day affairs and the generation of the wide spread belief that IT can be an effective instrument for the economic well being of a people are essential in this context. However good the objectives of the IT policy may be, its successful implementation depends to a large extent on the extent to which the citizens in general and the benefit groups in particular appreciate its usefulness and derive the fruit it provides. A well designed campaign to continually enhance the public awareness of the benefits of the various programs is quite relevant and essential in this context.