'Software export from Orissa to reach 1 billion'

Bhubaneswar,Mar 24: Orissa has set a target to export software to the tune of 1 billion US Dollars by 2011-2012, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the Assembly.

Replying to the motion of thanks to the address of Governor Rameswar Thakur in the House yesterday, Mr Patnaik said the software export from the state is expected to reach Rs 700 crores during the current fiscal.

He claimed that Orissa has achieved the distinction of being the only state in Eastern India to have the presence of all the four IT majors such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Satyam.

This apart a number of other IT companies like Genepact and Mindtree Consulting have shown keen interest to set up their processing centers at Bhubaneswar.

The DLF, the Chief Minister said, has been engaged to create 4.2 million sq.foot world class IT space over 52 acres of land close to the Info city adding that his government has made special efforts to attract investment in IT sector in the state.

He further said President A P J Abdul Kalam had laid the foundation stone of International Institute of Information technology at Bhubaneswar to produce quality manpower for the IT sector.

On irrigation potential of the state, Mr Patnaik said his government has prepared a Master Plan to bring all the 314 blocks in the state under irrigation coverage of 35 per cent. And to achieve the target different sources of funding such as the AIBP, the RIDF, the NREGS would be tapped for successful implementation of the plan. The Chief Minister announced that 1000 tanks will be constructed with the assistance of ADB and the World Bank.

Under Mission Shakti programmed launched by the government, over two lakh women Self Help Groups have been formed and credit linkage of Rs.554 crores have been provided to nearly 2.6 million women members, Mr Patnaik said.

The women SHGs, he said, were efficiently managing the Mid-Day Meal programme, Public Distribution System(PDS) and taken up income generating activities such as fisheries and dairy development.

The Chief Minister said the second phase of the Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihood programme(OTELP), presently launched in 10 blocks, would be extended to 20 more blocks in the second phase covering the districts of Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nabarangapur.

Responding to the Opposition criticism that his government was only busy in signing the MoUs, Mr Patnaik said the previous government during 1995-2000 had signed MoUs of more than one lakh crores but how many of these industries were actually grounded was for all of us to see.

On the other hand,he said his government has been pursuing these MoUs with all seriousness and as a result as may as 24 Steel Companies have started production achieving a combined capacity of 3.31 million tonnes of sponge iron and 1.47 million tonnes of steel.

These projects have so far provided employment to more than 9000 people directly and over 18000 indirectly with a total investment over Rs15000 crore, Mr Patnaik said.

UNI