IBM to sign MoU with UP to enchance e-governance:

Lucknow, Apr 4 (UNI) Global IT major IBM will sign an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government to enhance e-governance and citizen services in the state.

''The modalities of the soon to be signed MoU under our Project INVITE have already been finalised,'' Satish Kaushal, IBM Country Chief, informed here.

An IBM India program, Project INVITE (Initiative to Nurture a Vibrant IT Ecosystem) complements the IBM academic initiative to groom IT students as a more competitive workforce.

''INVITE is an ambitious program aimed at actively contributing to capacity building efforts in identified Indian states by enhancing to local talent pool, which would make the state attractive for IT investments.'' The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) initiative comes close on the heels of two other major IT firms -- Miscrosoft Corporation and Intel -- entering into a multi-dimensional pact with UP to accelerate IT usage.

The strategic areas identified in Microsoft/Intel-UP partnership include joint efforts for delivering affordable personal computer (PC) options, ushering e-governance, accelerating IT literacy and enabling access to technology in UP rural areas.

Mr Kaushal was addressing a seminar on e-governance on the sidelines of the 'UP IT Expo Infocom 2K6' yesterday. The three-day fair was inaugurated by UP Development Council chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh on Saturday.

Under Project INVITE, IBM will shortlist leading IT institutes in UP and generate a student mass of 50,000, who would then be put ino a ''mentoring process.'' The students would be involved in creating prototype solutions for local e-governance needs at various levels such as public grievances information system and civic bodies.

IBM will also conduct technical seminars and workshops to benefit IT professionals, entrepreneurs and teachers.

''Our students will approach various government departments and suggest customised e-governance solutions,'' the IBM official said adding, National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Uttar Pradesh Development Systems Corporation (UPDESCO) could also be involved in the programme.

Other major objectives would be to develop repository of e-governance prototype solutions and make it freely available to government agencies, solution providers and academia.

UNI