It’s the worst of times and the best of times for software companies. Hit hard air jordan 7 vii citrus black citrus varsity red by air jordan fusion 4 the economic downturn in the West, the information air jordan retro 14 thunder black vibrant yellow white technology (IT) sector has found an unlikely saviour in the Government, both at the Centre and in the states. An ambitious national e governance plan requiring extensive use of IT for better delivery of schemes and projects has thrown open a wide basket of opportunities for services ranging from easy filing of tax returns to quick ticket reservation. Chandrasekhar, secretary IT, Government of India, describes this rush as a happy convergence between the huge amount of preparatory groundwork for e governance and the global downturn. “It made the IT sector look much more towards the domestic air jordan 6 retro white midnight navy economy than in the past,” he says. More of such opportunities are going to drive the estimated 15 17 per cent growth of the sector in fiscal 2011. Agrees Som Mittal, president, Nasscom, “The domestic sector in the past year has witnessed a rapid growth, largely led by government spending on IT and forays by leading companies into the Indian market with special thrust on government projects. The Government’s recognition of technology adoption has created a large opportunity for the industry to help the country leapfrog digital inclusion.”

Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla (centre) at the launch of E Filing facility of the Foreign Investment Promotion BoardWhat is more important to India’s service providers is that the Government is looking at it in a fundamentally different way. Karan Bajwa, general manager of public sector, Microsoft India, air jordan 20 stealth black red echoes the industry’s feeling that from viewing it as an enabler, the Government is now looking at it as an agent of change. So if SAP India is securing orders to deploy its solutions in municipal corporations in Karnataka for modernisation of urban local bodies, Microsoft air jordan 12 obsidian white french blue India is working with the Maharashtra Government to enhance Information air jordan 15 original flint grey white and Communications Technology (ICT) adoption in education and for building employability. Anand Sankaran, head India and Middle East, Wipro Infotech, says, “We have $1.1 billion revenue from India, of which 10 per cent comes from government projects compared to 5 6 per cent three years ago.”

India’s first successful project MCA21, completed by TCS, in full swing in DelhiA bulk of the contracts comes from the 27 Mission Mode Projects under the National e Governance Plan. The plan offers the industry opportunities to use IT for improving efficiency of public services in transportation, healthcare, education, taxation, policing and judiciary among others. There are also e infrastructure schemes like State Wide Area Network (SWAN) and State Data Centre (SDC). Of particular interest are the Finance Ministry’s projects relating to Direct Tax Code, air jordan 1 retro white black red creation of a National Treasury Management Agency and Expenditure Information Network, the Education Department’s e learning initiative and the Rural Development Ministry’s plans for e panchayats and digitisation of land records. Of late, says Mittal, the excitement of the companies has swung to the Budget 2010 proposals on smart cards for NREGA and the Financial Inclusion Technology Fund.

There is plenty of action in the states too, especially in Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh that had earlier been left out by the first wave of the IT revolution. If Bihar wants to computerise its public service commission, Orissa wants IT service providers to bring in hassle free e registration of sale air jordan 12 retro black grand purple aquamarine and air jordan 11 legend blue white black legend blue purchase of land. In Madhya Pradesh, Anurag Srivastava, additional secretary, IT Department, is leading an initiative to provide computers in 2,000 government schools. Also, all states are undertaking reforms in state electricity boards to curb transmission losses with the use of IT, for which they have set aside Rs 2,000 crore each.