Prasad asks Nitish to expedite IT implementation in Bihar

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has written to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar highlighting issues being faced by IT Department, UIDAI and other agencies regarding implementation of their programmes in the state.
"The Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY) and its autonomous societies/attached offices, National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT), Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) are facing some issues with implementation of its programmes/schemes in the state of Bihar, which need your intervention to be resolved quickly," the letter said.
The IT and Communications Minister said the state has earmarked 250 acres land for setting up electronics manufacturing cluster in Rajgir in Nalanda district.

However, no proposal in this regard has so far been received in spite of many follow-ups by the IT department, Prasad added.
"Electronics manufacturing in India is progressing at good speed and many international companies are setting up base in India...I am very keen that they should come and invest in Bihar," he said.
Under the STPI scheme, the state has to contribute 3 acres of developed land and minimum 20,000 sq ft built-up space or Rs 5 crore of grant each for two centres in Bhagalpur and Darbhanga, which is still awaited.

"DG, STPI has been following up with the Department of IT, Bihar," he said.

On Aadhaar, the Union Minister said about 4 crore people in the state need to be given the cards, so that they can use them for receiving various government benefits.
"Periodic reviews at your level will go a long way in expediting the enrollment of residual population," he wrote.
He added that these initiatives will only encourage greater opportunities for young people of Bihar for IT skilling, delivery of services, software products and create employment.
"Hailing from Bihar, I am willing to render all cooperation. However, the state government, I need to emphasise, has to play a proactive role," he said.