| Information Technology (IT) is one of the most | | | | The first issue which really affects the IT industry is |
| dominant and growing industry in the global economy | | | | 'time factor'. We have to change our approach and |
| today. The dynamic technological advancements in the | | | | prepare a 'time frame rule' for each function |
| Information Technology have reinforced the changes in | | | | accomplished by the Government. As far as software |
| the economy and social sector that are transforming | | | | companies are concerned, their should be one-door |
| the business and society. In this article, we have tried | | | | delivery process which not only consume their time but |
| to trace some hindrances in the process to attract | | | | change their attitude towards the state. The second |
| software industries to Orissa. | | | | issue that hampers the development process in the |
| Orissa has been occupying a banner headline in the | | | | state is the 'rehabilitation'. The cause of all displacement |
| front page of national newspapers or a major news | | | | related problem really hampers the industrialization |
| item in the primetime news programmes of satellite | | | | because of not having comprehensive resettlement |
| channels. It may be the highest Foreign Direct | | | | and rehabilitation policy and if there most of these |
| Investment (FDI) in the state or the Kalinga Nagar | | | | schemes are sectoral or project-specific. The |
| issue; Orissa always made an effort to attract | | | | government should work out a comprehensive |
| worldwide attention in the business front. At the same | | | | resettlement and rehabilitation package for Orissa. |
| time, Orissa has witnessed a tremendous change in | | | | Before drafting a rehabilitation policy, the committee |
| the industrial atmosphere in the recent past. The | | | | should take a concrete decision on payment of full |
| Orissa government has been able to create a | | | | compensation for all losses to the affected people at |
| favourable, pro-active and friendly policy for the | | | | replacement cost and their proper settlement through |
| industrial growth of the state. We have stressed on | | | | allotment of land and jobs, seeks to elevate the |
| large infrastructure development and communication | | | | position of project-affected people to stakeholder by |
| network. As a result, a spectacular progress has been | | | | asking the industrial and mining companies to earmark |
| registered in the infrastructure development especially | | | | some equity for them as preferential shares. |
| in the industrial-linked areas. The large chunk of mineral | | | | Besides that air connectivity, social infrastructure and |
| resources attracts many industries to invest in the | | | | manpower skills are the major handicaps to attract big |
| state. During the course of time, the BJD-BJP alliance | | | | players in IT and ITES sector. Infosys Technologies |
| government signed 43 MoUs with private companies | | | | and Satyam have set up software development |
| for the setting up of as many greenfield steel plants. | | | | centres (SDCs) here. Wipro and TCS have acquired |
| The State government's Steel and Mines Department | | | | land for SDCs in Bhubaneswar but top ITES players, |
| estimates the investment in these steel plants to the | | | | such as Genpact, HSBC, Accenture, Transworks, |
| tune of Rs.1,37,157.85 crores. This is a about the pen | | | | Progeon, have not yet started their operation from |
| and paper work but when we think about the ground | | | | Orissa soil. At the same time, we can not deny that |
| realities, there many huddles to face by the state | | | | Orissa badly needs more financial resources and |
| government and also by the industry. | | | | better delivery systems to uplift the living standards of |
| This wave of industrialization not only threatens the | | | | its population who are belong to below poverty line. |
| state's air, water and wildlife but also makes the | | | | The efforts of Government to make an attractive |
| people of Orissa environmental refugees in their own | | | | destination for IT and ITES companies raise adequate |
| land. The people's livelihoods are being destroyed by | | | | financial resources to support anti-poverty programme. |
| the so-called industrial blitzkrieg. According to | | | | The Orissa's economy has always faced the problem |
| environmental activist Mr Biswajit Mohanty, Due to the | | | | of deficit budget and the returns of IT and ITES may |
| abysmal enforcement of pollution control laws by the | | | | plough back the state into the streamline track. Lack of |
| State Pollution Control Board, environmental costs of | | | | adequate air connectivity to Bhubaneswar from Delhi, |
| production are negligible in Orissa since no one uses | | | | Mumbai, Bangalore and other major cities is a big |
| pollution control equipment such as electrostatic | | | | hindrance for the companies to divert from Orissa to |
| precipitators. As many as 64 sponge iron units in | | | | other states. The first step is to improve Biju Patnaik |
| Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts have destroyed | | | | Airport at Bhubaneswar to international standards and |
| drinking water sources and agriculture fields, Mr | | | | addition to that two more airports should be started |
| Mohanty said. Besides that resettlement and | | | | operating from two major cities of Orissa. With a view |
| rehabilitation are other major issues during the | | | | to drawing up a comprehensive action plan not only |
| industrialization. In this process, we can not stop | | | | for development of Information Technology industry in |
| industrialization because it is essential for economic | | | | the state but also for accelerating the use of |
| transformation. At the same time, we have to find out | | | | Information Technology in various sectors of the |
| a way to overcome these hurdles and boost the state | | | | economy. |
| economy. The rapidly growing software sector can | | | | Lack of job opportunities for employment in Govt. and |
| help the Orissa economy to reach at the dreamed | | | | the organized sector is key concern of the state. The |
| target. | | | | job prospects are very bleak as many of the new |
| Information Technology (IT) is one of the most | | | | investment projects are heavily capital-intensive and |
| dominant and growing industry in the global economy | | | | are thus unlikely to create new jobs for the local |
| today. The dynamic technological advancements in the | | | | population, while the senior and managerial jobs in |
| Information Technology have reinforced the changes in | | | | these projects are likely to be filled by persons outside |
| the economy and social sector that are transforming | | | | the state. For improving the job opportunities in the |
| the business and society. In view of this new kind of | | | | managerial level, educational institutions will need to rise |
| economy-information economy, the software | | | | up to global standards to take advantage of the |
| development activity is expected to grow many folds | | | | emerging job opportunities in the IT sector in the state |
| in the coming years. This technology has resulted in the | | | | in the globalize scenario. More than 18,000 Engineering, |
| growing importance of the software services. No | | | | MCA & MBA graduates pass out each year and |
| need to rehabilitate the tribes and no need to earn | | | | 50,000 general graduates pass out from colleges all |
| money by selling the precious metals. Software | | | | over the state. Still there is a mismatch between |
| industry can solve these issues upto some extent. The | | | | employment opportunities and skill sets required by the |
| over-drafted state can be paid monthly regular salaries | | | | employer. The state needs to produce more technical |
| to the employees and spend more money in health, | | | | sound professionals to fulfill the requirement of |
| education and other developmental activities. | | | | software industry. In many cases, many Oriya |
| The Chief Minister has taken all necessary steps to | | | | software professionals prefer to work outside Orissa |
| eliminate corruption. These steps are necessary to | | | | because of lack of job opportunities. If the state will |
| attract entrepreneurs but not sufficient. The | | | | able to create maximum number of software job |
| government should build an image of integrity and | | | | opportunities in different parts of Orissa then Oriya |
| efficiency of the state. Besides that the Government | | | | software professional working outside Orissa, also |
| should create an investment friendly atmosphere | | | | willing to come back home state. |
| through a completely transparent system. When the | | | | We must acknowledge that Kalingas once led |
| world entered into the digital age, still we believe in the | | | | Hindustan, as evinced by Relics like one of India's |
| tagged dusted files of government offices. One-door | | | | intellectual centers, serving as a beacon of knowledge |
| service is a new concept for the people of Orissa. | | | | and culture. To attract the attention of top software |
| Starting from telephone bills to appointment with a | | | | players and to unshackle from the debt-trap, Kalingas |
| minister, we have to revisit the office at least the | | | | can resuscitate their leadership in the contemporary |
| security guard start saluting just like a well known, | | | | Indian intellectual process by establishing systems that |
| influential person then only your file may be forwarded | | | | no other state has embraced so far by which |
| towards destination. The people of Orissa believe in | | | | Government can make the state as an attractive |
| hardcopy rather than softcopy or any digital document. | | | | destination for IT and ITES companies. |
| Now time has compelled to rethink on several issues. | | | | |