Govt plans to set up IT Institute to tackle cyber crime

Nachiketa Narayan

Allahabad, Feb 15 (PTI) The Union Government has decidedto set up a state-of-the-art institute dedicated to churningout professionals and developing technologies to tackle cybercrime.

"The Union HRD Ministry recently took the decision to setup a state-of-the-art Indian Institute of InformationTechnology (IIIT), which would focus solely on strengtheningcyber laws, producing cyber professionals trained to developnew software and technologies to fight the menace," Directorof the IIIT-Allahabad M D Tiwari told PTI here.

The decision was taken at a meeting held in New Delhi onJanuary 24, attended by directors of the four existing IIITsof the country and HRD officials, Tiwari said.

"It was decided that the Institute would be built at acost of Rs 100 crore on a Public-Private-Partnership modelwith IIIT-Allahabad playing the vital role of working out thedetails of this institute and its concept," he said.

As per an estimate of the HRD Ministry, the country needs2.5 lakh IT experts to tackle cyber crime, Tiwari said.

"Once the location for the new IIIT is finalised, theindustrial sector, the Centre and the concerned stategovernment are likely to share the expenses," he said.

"While the Union HRD Ministry will be providing Rs 50crore, the state will bear expenses worth Rs 35 crore byensuring availability of land and other requisite facilities.

The Industry will chip in with the remaining Rs 15 crore," hesaid.

He said IIIT-A was selected to play a vital role as it isthe only IIIT to have expertise in the field of cyber law andeven runs a postgraduate programme on the subject.

"The fact that we have a Rs seven crore IT Forensic Laband many researches in the field to our credit also went inour favour," he said.