Allocation for DIT increased to Rs 1,680 crores

New Delhi, Feb 29: Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today said that the allocation to the Department of Information Technology (DIT) has been increased to Rs 1,680 crores for 2008-09 from Rs 1,500 crores in the previous year. In his Budget speech, he said a scheme for establishing 100,000 broadband internet-enabled serice centres in rural areas and a State Wide Area Networks (SWAN) with central assistance are under implementation.

He said a new scheme fo state data centre has also been approved. ''I propose to provide Rs 75 crores for the common service centres, Rs 450 crores for SWAN and Rs 275 crores for the state data centres for the year 2008- for the year 2008-09,'' he said.

UNI