PM exhorts IT Industry to focus on solutions to benefit society

Mumbai, Feb 9 (UNI) In a clarion call to the Information Technology (IT) sector to ensure that the large rural population got the benefits of the IT explosion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it should focus on solutions that could also benefit farmers, artisans and weavers.

Addressing the valedictory session of Nasscom--India Leadership Forum summit here, Dr Singh said the IT sector should aim at reaching out to the hinterland and even villages as there were millions of people in the country still untouched by it.

He said technology-driven innovations in healthcare, education, agriculture and rural development were essential to lend substance to the agenda of inclusive growth.

Acknowledging the IT sector as a remarkable breakthrough, the Prime Minister said ''We need inclusiveness in IT as we have inclusiveness in Banking.'' He announced that a high-level committee had been set up in the Planning Commission to look into all aspects of influencing performance of the services sector.

''As this committee finalises its recommendations, we will take all possible measures to support innovation, competitiveness and sustained growth of the services sector,'' Dr Singh said.

He emphasised that the IT sector should actively participate in the inclusive growth mission of the country to ensure growth of all sections of society.

The Prime Minister, who was on a brief visit to the metropolis for the NASSCOM function, however, could not have any interaction with local political leaders due to his tight schedule, official sources said.

However, the Shiv Sena-BJP were critical of Dr Singh as he could not spare time to meet their leaders, alleging he was not serious about problems of the city.

Sena leader Subhash Desai expressed deep disappointment that the meeting could not take place despite a request being made to the Pime Minister's office for an appointment.

UNI