IT panel likely to submit report by mid-Jan

The expert committee on information technology (IT) headed by Mr Sam Pitroda is likely to submit its report by the middle of January.

“The expert committee under Sam Pitroda is likely to submit its report to the government by the middle of January,” Principal IT Secretary, Mr Basudeb Banerjee, told PTI.

He said that the blueprint of the state’s IT policy would be based on the recommendations contained in the report.

After coming to power, the state government under the leadership of Ms Mamata Banerjee formed an expert committee on IT with Infosys founder, Mr N.R. Narayana Murthy, as mentor and Mr Sam Pitroda as chairman.

Other prominent members of the panel include former Nasscom Chairman, Mr Kiran Karnik, and executive co-chairman of Infosys, Mr S. Gopalakrishnan.

Mr Banerjee said that the report would also contain policy on hardware as well as software. “This is the first time that so much thrust is being given on developing hardware industry in the state,” he said.

The other new aspect which would also feature is that of setting up of an innovation laboratory in the state.

He said that the government had already handed over 50-acre of land to Infosys at Rajarhat for setting up its first unit in the state.

“Work in also on to hand over another 50 acres to Wipro for its second unit also at Rajarhat,” he said.