Sachin Pilot announces Rs 567 crore IT project for NE

Shillong, June 18: Union Minister of State for Communications and

,

, today announced a Rs 567 crore IT project especially meant to upgrade e-governance and IT services in all the north east states.

Pilot reviewed the progress of ITC schemes, BSNL and postal services in the region and implementation of Ministry's flagship scheme, the National e-Governance Plan and directed all agencies to resolve the pending issues to improve service delivery to the people.

Total expenditure of Department of IT in the North Eastern states is estimated to be Rs 243 crore for the current year and out of this Rs 190 crore has been earmarked for e-Governance, he said.

The funds are to be spent on the implementation of the State Data Centres, State Wide Area Network, Common Service Centres, State Service Delivery Gateways, e-District Mission Mode Project, World Bank Project, Special TSP/SCSP Funds, Capacity Building and Special NE Training Package.

Pilot informed that Union Cabinet has recently sanctioned a Rs 388 crore special package for North East to impart affordable ICT training to the local youth.

"Of the budgeted Rs 388 crore, Rs 63.35 crore have been targeted to be spent in this year. The project would enable training of 14,000 youth per year, which is a five-fold increase. This would ensure the availability of trained professionals in the region which would attract IT Industry to set up their units in the North East," he said.

PTI