Stop looking at IT industry as a cash-cow: Sibal

Mumbai, Feb 8 (PTI) Exuding confidence that the ITindustry will scale the USD 225-billion mount by 2020,Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today called for the need tolook at this sunshine industry differently and not just as amilking cow.

"The IT industry needs to be looked at differently andnot as a milking cow, "Sibal said at the inaugural session ofthe three-day Nasscom India Leadership Forum 2011 that got offhere today.

The Minister said he is hopeful of the industrygrowing to the size of USD 225 billion by the turn of 2020from USD 67 billion at present.

He further said it is about time that we begin to lookat the IT sector as empowering the people and the society thanas a mere source of good revenue collection.

"So far we have been looking at this industry only interms of how much tax and revenue we can get. But we need tolook at this industry as to how much it can empower thepeople," Sibal said.

The government plans to connect every taluka withbroadband and increase the amount of content with optic fibresoon, he said, adding the USD 35-laptop is going to changeboth our lives as well as the community.