The Government of Telangana has announced its IT Policy and four subsidiary policies for the period 2016 to 2020 in the presence of major IT tycoons and a member of NITI Aayog. The GOI released a policy on Electronics in 2014. In that policy, Maheshwaram in Telangana was selected as one of the Electronic Manufacturing Clusters (EMC). Within 2 years, the Telangana government has come out with its own forward looking Electronic System Designing and Manufacturing Policy after creating all infrastructural facilities there. The policy lays focus on establishment of semiconductors, mobiles, PCs, LED and gadgets manufacturing units as well as a cluster of electronic industries. Another initiative is setting up of Electronics Incubator Centre in addition to T- Hub.
Innovation is necessary for enhanced quality of living. But the policy turned a Nelson’s eye to relocation and expansion of the 250 electronic SMEs identified by the government and hundreds of peripheral units of BHEL, BEL, ECIL, HBL and other private sector units which were closed due to high power tariff, inadequacy in financial support, lack of infrastructural facilities, lack of orders and entry of China products into industry. The Centre of Excellence in the department is meant for understanding and mapping out existing work processes could create indigenous and innovative solutions that help in getting new business opportunities and simplifying product development of SMEs.
On the new initiatives in policy, it was thought that the NITI Aayog member may rekindle hope on Photonic Valley Corporation, Hyderabad, in response to presentation on photonic technology by the Telangana government before the NITI Aayog in April 2015. The first State government in the country, which materialised an MoU in February 2015 with Photonic Corporation of Los Angeles to develop an eco system for next generation chips and products in the country could not meet the required huge budget requirements because of the lukewarm response from the GOI.
Another new initiative is formation of Digital Telangana centres in 8,700 panchayats in the State with trained women village local entrepreneurs. It is a good step to ensure uplift of rural women and facilitate their entry into technology world. The present government’s financial services are maintained by public sector banks and postal banks. It could not become a hardship to hundreds of employees depending on Mee Seva centres, and E Seva centres delivering as many as 325 services of government to the public. Creation of separate District IT Officer supported by two Programme Managers in each district is another good move. The present IT connection to district administration – i.e., NIC – is confined to the Government of India programmes. Now, the Centre for Good Governance, which is collecting exorbitant fees from the government departments, is saddled with limited deputed staff and is infamous for its lethargic attitude in completion of projects. This problem can be tackled with the support of District IT Officers and this new establishment wing in the government may work as a catalyst to private service providers in extension of E-Governance and M-Governance and become a backbone for the Internet of Things in Rural areas.
Regarding the Rural Technology Policy, the Government of Telanagana wants to be a front-runner in creation of employment to the youth by providing training with support of TASK (Telangana Academy for Skill & Knowledge) at the upcoming Rural Technology centres in tier-2 and tier-3 cities by setting up cyber towers in Warangal and Janagaon and at later stage in other places. Only Rs 254 crores budget has been provided for the ITE&C department for the year 2016-17, which is very adequate. It is not possible with this meagre budget to fulfil all the set objectives in the policy. At present, a majority of existing PPP projects are under the control of TSIIC. Creation of Critical Infrastructure Fund at the disposal of ITE&C department through TSIIC is not sufficient to meet the needs of IT. Hence, the IT department may tap funds from the proposed Special Development Fund of Rs 4,675 crores earmarked in the 2016-17 budget. In enhancing the skill levels of students, foreign language teaching is a novel step proposed in the policy; it is necessary to enhance employability of the youth. The support of the English & Foreign Language University, Hyderabad, may effect a paradigm shift as it will cut down the budgets of companies to impart new language skills to the recruits.
Following the launch of IT Policy and Industrial Policy, a popular pop song on “Made in India “ by Alisha Chinoy in 1990s eulogised the idea of turning India into a manufacturing hub for the world. Let us hope “Made in Telangana” initiatives will attract the IT and electronics companies in droves to Telangana in the coming years.
(The writer is a Special Grade Deputy Collector, Hyderabad district)

Sarala Vandanam S