Policies :  

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY OF MAHARASHTRA 

With its strong HRD and state-of-the-art infrastructure, Maharashtra is well poised to take full advantage of the Information Technology revolution sweeping the globe. The state has a leading position in India, itself a nation with rare potential in the Information Technology sector. The Center for the Development of Advanced Computing, C-DAC, which developed India's Super Computer, is located at Pune in Maharashtra. The state also boasts of the largest number of software companies and accounts for the biggest share of India's of software exports.

It is Maharashtra Government's singular commitment to strengthen the state's leading position and to make its Information Technology industry globally competitive. To give its efforts proper thrust, the Government of Maharashtra has undertaken a number of policy initiatives in the areas of HRD, Infrastructure, and Incentives to the Information Technology industry and computerization of Citizen-Government interface.

MISSION STATEMENT:

In continuation of the state's New Industry, Trade and Commerce Policy, 1995, who’s Mission Statement was Empowerment of People at all levels, the Mission Statement of this Information Technology Policy is Empowerment through Connectivity.  

We believe that access to computers, connectivity to the Internet and availability of computer-based knowledge have the potential of transforming the already strong industrial base and vibrant agriculture of the state into a modern and knowledge-based economic powerhouse. Information Technology also has the potential of building a modern, computerized society. Our Mission is to empower the people of the state to realize this huge potential.

Objective: Anything Anyhow Anywhere (AAA) 

Ø       To achieve the above mission, it is necessary to ensure AAA connectivity, thereby leveraging the state's core competency in HRD to attain a leading position in Information Technology through strategic policy initiatives in different-areas.

 STRATEGY:

The above objective is to be achieved through the following strategy planks:

Ø      To provide to the people of the state a world-class Information Technology Infrastructure.

Ø      To put in place an appropriate institutional mechanism for initiatives in Information Technology sector.

Ø      To make the people of the state highly computer-literate and to produce top-class Information Technology professionals through strong HRD initiatives.

Ø      To consolidate and greatly strengthen the Information Technology industry in the state including the software and hardware industry as well as Information Technology enabled Services through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

Ø      To computerize the Citizen-Government interface in order to make Government more transparent and to bring it closer to the people.

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: 

Within the next five years, all the 637 Govt./Semi-Govt. Secondary Schools and Higher Secondary Schools in the state will be provided with computer labs at a cost of Rs.15 lakhs each. The total expenditure on this program is expected to be Rs.960 million in five years. In the first phase, this program will be Implemented in 137 schools during the first two years.           

§         Aided Secondary Schools will be encouraged to obtain private participation for setting up Computer Labs by permitting them commercial use of these facilities outside of school hours.

§         As and when Vidyanet, Ernet or Internet connectivity is made available, the same will be provided at government cost to Govt./Semi-Govt. secondary schools.

§         'Teach the Teachers' program will be taken up in such a way that there is no lacuna between the availability of computers and trained teachers. Engineering institutions like degree colleges, polytechnics and other specialized teaching institutions in the state will be encouraged to expand their intake for Information Technology courses in a big way.

§         There is need to have a Software University to spearhead research, training and development in this area. The Government will welcome establishment of a Software University by a reputed academic institution of national or international standing.

§         A wealth of relevant information and knowledge needs to be made available in electronic format to the people of the state so that they can reap the real benefits of Information Technology. For this purpose, the state will set up a dedicated centre in the University of Pune for developing a Digital Library.

§         Engineering institutions like degree colleges, polytechnics and other specialized teaching institutions in the State will be encouraged to expand their intake for IT courses in a big way with a view to substantially expand it by 2003. For this purpose, if any institution is desirous of starting additional IT courses on a no grant basis, the State Government will welcome such amove and freely permit the same.

§         IT Task Force has proposed setting up of an Indian Institute of Information  Technology. We feel that C-DAC being located at Pune, this city is the ideal location for an IIIT. The Government will offer land and other facilities at Pune and also             contribute to 50% of the initial cost for setting up the IIIT. Other major cities of the State such as Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nasik can be linked to the IIIT as hubs or as virtual IIIT.

§         Most of the resources available on the Internet or in electronic format are from the Western world. A wealth of relevant information and knowledge needs to be madeavailable in electronic format to the neo-computer -literate of the State so that they             can reap the real benefits of their computer literacy. For this purpose, state will set up a digital library, C-DAC, NIC,NCST, Universities in the State, Sahitya SanskritiMandal, Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha and premier research institutes in the State will be associated with this project which will be an on-going one. It is proposed to setup a dedicated centre in the University of Pune for this purpose, which will be the nodal agency for this project. This centre will also collaborate with NCST and C-DAC to make software available in Marathi.

§         Maharashtra is proud of the fact that Warananagar in Kolhapur distrrict was chosen by the IT Task Force for the pilot project 'Wired Villages'. This project is aimed atboosting IT for iagriculture, integrated rural development and for bringing IT to the doorstep of the common man. The State will replicate this project in all the revenue divisions in the State within the next 2 years.

INFRASTRUCTURE

State agencies such as MSEB (Maharashtra State Electricity Board), PWD (Public Works Department), Irrigation Department, who have rights of way will facilitate laying of fiber optic backbones by private ISPs or Telecom Service Providers. While MSEB has started the process by inviting tenders, other agencies will provide right of way to the Information Technology industry at 50% of their normal rates. Government will issue directives to Municipal Corporations and Councils to allow the use of Street light poles for extending fibre optic cable network or cable network for the purposes of Internet connectivity.

In order to encourage Public TeleInfo Centres, the government will provide land on lease for a period of at least 10 years on the same concessional terms and conditions as are applicable to educational institutions. These centres will also be eligible for assistance under the Package Scheme of Incentives.

 MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) will also develop plug-and-play Information Technology entrepreneurship incubation facilities at Navi Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to encourage first generation software professionals to start their operations quickly.

A Hardware Park will be set up over an area of 400 hectares in Navi Mumbai, close to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port. Maharashtra will fully support DoT for opening Internet access nodes at all District HQs and towns with a population of more than 100 000 by 27th January 2000.

Where private ISPs do not come forward, state agencies such as MIDC, CIDCO will come forward to provide these services. If necessary, State agencies will also provide Internet Gateway access, as envisaged in the IT Action Plan. Where necessary, the state will underwrite the cost of setting up these services by private agencies to the extent of 50%. State agencies such as MSEB, PWD, Irrigation departments who have rights of way will facilitate laying of fibre optic backbones by private agencies at nominal charge. Where no private agencies come forward to provide a backbone and such a backbone is necessary, the state will take up the work through one of its agencies.

The IT Action Plan proposes to set up Public TelInfo Centres (PTIC) for providing ISDN Services, Remote Database Access, Government and Community Information systems, Market Information, and Desk Top Video conferencing.

INTERNET/Web Access Services. Where necessary and possible, Govt. will provide Govt. land and finance through its agencies such as MSFC and SICOM for setting up these centres. These centres will also be eligible for assistance under the package scheme of incentives.

The IT Task Force has recommended setting up of 5 Hi-Tech Habitats in the country, one of which is Pune. MIDC will be the nodal agency of the State to develop the  Hi-Tech Habitat near Pune, for which 100 hectares of land near Balewadi (village Hinjewadi ) has also been identified. The MIDC will also simultaneously develop such Habitats near Nasik.

MIDC will also develop plug-and-play IT entrepreneurship incubation facilities at selected locations to encourage first generation software professionals to start their operations quickly. These are high growth potential companies, to be set up by highly  talented young professionals, where annual growth in excess if 100% are not uncommon.   

INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM

 The State Government has already set up a Directorate of Information Technology for IT in Government. It has also created special posts of Secretary and Director to oversee computerization in Government.  

The High Power Committee already set up under the Chief Secretary for sanctioning computerization projects in government will be reconstituted and empowered to take decisions regarding implementation of the Information Technology Policy. A Cabinet Sub-Committee on Industrial Development has already been formed. This Committee will take final decisions in respect of the Information Technology Policy. 

There is a committee under Secretary (Industries) to decide on issues of interpretation in the operation of the State's package scheme of incentives. This committee will be suitably expanded to include experts in the field of Information Technology to decide on the selection of the individual unit or software park and the applicability of incentives as may be determined by the Government to the IT industry.  

The Empowered Committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary (COSID)will review the implementation of the IT policy. For this purpose, the committee will be expanded to include other relevant functionaries from the Government of Maharashtra and others like the Chairman VSNL or his representative, Director, Software Technology Park of India, Director, D-DAC, Director, NCST, as well as         representatives of IT industry like NASSCOM and Electronic Hardware and Software Export Promotion Council.  

A Cabinet Sub-Committee on Industrial Development has been constituted for speedy decision-making in matters relating to industrial development including IT sector. This will act as the highest policy making body with respect to IT industry.  

FISCAL AND NON-FISCAL INCENTIVES

A host of fiscal and non-fiscal measures will be offered to the Information Technology industry in the state to consolidate the state's leading position.

Ø      Software industry will be allowed in residential, industrial and commercial zones.

Ø      Software industry will be included as one of the permissible users in the No Development Zone.

Ø      100% additional FSI for Software Technology Parks set up by public bodies on  payment of premium amounting to 25% of the market value.

Ø      No MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) clearance required for software units.

Ø      Under the Package Scheme of Incentives, benefits meant for industrially backward 'D' areas will be extended to the Information Technology industry even in relatively advanced A, B and C area. This scheme will be in operation till 2000 AD.

Ø      Sales Tax on hardware will be reduced to 2%, on packaged and off-the-shelf software to 1% and on customised software to nil. These rates will not be raised for the next five years.

Ø      Octroi charged by local bodies on Information Technology industry will be refunded.

Ø      Electricity Duty on power used by the Information Technology products will be waived.

Ø      No stamp duty on property transactions within designated Software/Infotech Parks as well as on instruments of software companies such as lease documents, issue of shares etc. Registration charges will be Rs. 1000 maximum. 

E-GOVERNANCE

The objective of use of Information Technology in government will be to improve the quality and productivity of services rendered by government, in order to make government more transparent and to bring Information Technology to the common man. 

The Warananagar Wired Villages Project will be, replicated in other regions of the state. Computerization of government department with very high public contact will be taken up in the first phase. Computerized interface between citizen and government by way of Bulletin Boards and Public TeleInfo Centers will ensure that people instantly interact with government and can make effective use of government program’s, policies and procedures.  

Programs to increase computer literacy and proficiency of government employees will be accelerated. Increasing use of E-mail for internal government communication is designed as a move towards the Paperless Office. 

For further details contact:

SURESH KUMAR

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY I.T.

Room No. 429, Annex, 6th Floor,

Mantralaya, Mumbai - 400 032, India.

Telefax : (91-22) 202 5264

YASHAWANT BHAVE

SECRETARY, INDUSTRIES,

GOVT. OF MAHARASHTRA

Room No. 114, Annex, 1st Floor,

Mantralaya, Mumbai - 400 032, India.

Tel. : (91-22) 2025393/2027281 Fax : (91-22) 2824446

E-mail : umcC@giasbm0l.vsnl.net.in  

A. RAMKRISHNAN

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER

(INDUSTRIES) MAHARASHTRA

Directorate of Industries,

New Administrative Bldg., 2nd Floor,

Opp. Mantralaya, Mumbai - 400 032, India.

Tel : (91-22) 202 86 16/202 35 84 Fax :(91-22) 202 68 26

E-mail : dihq@mah.nic.in scind@giasbmOl.vsnl,net.in

For Latest Developments on the Subject,

visit us at : http://www.maharashtra.gov.in