IT dept asks OCAC to set up unit for ICT policy execution

For effective implementation of the newly formulated ICT (information and communication technology) Policy-2014, the state IT department has directed its technical directorate Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) to set up a project implementation unit (PIU).

“The IT and ESDM (Electronic System Design & Manufacturing) promotion cell of OCAC would be converted to PIU with induction of specialists in the field of management, technology and finance,” Satyabrata Ray, deputy secretary  of IT department wrote to the General manager, OCAC.

The PIU will be responsible for the implementing the ICT policy including the administering/facilitating extension of various incentives/concessions available under the policy for eligible units.

OCAC is the nodal agency for the implementation of the ICT policy and will be responsible for the progress of various activities under the policy. It was asked to prepare an operational guideline for grounding the newly declared policy which aims at achieving gross ICT turnover (including exports of software and IT services, ESDM, domestic consumption and training) of Rs 24, 000 crore by 2020.

“I would therefore, request you to take immediate steps to set up a PIU with induction of specialists in the field of management, technology and finance by preparing a RFP (request for proposal) through  State e-Mission Team (SeMT) consultants and select the specialists/agency,” Ray wrote.

The new policy aims to give direct employment to 60,000 professionals in 800 IT/ITES/ESDM units and create a built-up space of 60 lakh square feet and develop land bank of 2,000 acres and attract 10 new leading IT/ITes and five ESDM companies.

For promoting the ESDM sector in the state, the government has prepared a strategic road map.

The ESDM sector is poised to generate cumulative revenue of Rs 18,800 crore in Odisha by 2024, as per the estimates of the road map. To achieve this, investment of Rs 7,340 crore need to be pumped into the sector in three phases.

The road map estimates the potential of the sector to generate about 60,000 jobs in the next 10 years. Apart from Khurda district, where Info-valley project is coming up, Rayagada, Sundergarh, Balasore and Ganjam districts have been identified as the destination for investment in the ESDM sector in the state.