Explore opportunities in rural India: Official

Bangalore Nov 8 (UNI) Karnataka today said it would set up Tech Parks in Shimoga, Mangalore, Mysore, Belgaum and Davangere aimed at sustained growth in rural IT, an official said.

Speaking at a round table at ICT event BangaloreIT.Biz, Mr Ashok Kumar Manoli, Principal Secretary, Department of IT, BT, Science and Technology said the Industry should to explore new opportunities in rural areas to enrich them.

''Companies can achieve a 30-35 per cent cost reduction in rural areas. Our mission is to take IT to the masses,'' he said.

He termed the current global meltdown as an opportunity to ''innovate, concentrate on cost reduction and explore business opportunities within the country.'' Oobserving the growing inequalities between urban and rural areas, Mr Arvind Jannu, Director, Directorate of IT&BT called for a drastic change in the mindset of the government, industry and people.

State-owned KEONICS has started over 250 computer education centres in rural Karnataka.

Dr S K Agarwal, Director, STPI and Development Commissioner, Maharashtra called for the formation of an apex body to analyse rural needs.

Addressing the power problems of the industry, he urged his industry counterparts to explore new options for energy supply.

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