THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Group of Technology Companies (G-Tech), the industry body of software companies in the state, has proposed a new ‘Kerala Model’ for IT development. The suggestions, aimed at inclusive growth and expansion of IT industry to rural areas, were presented to the Chief Minister and IT Minister the other day, said G-Tech president V K Mathews. "The highlight of our proposals is the idea to spread IT business to suburban towns. IT business need not be city-centric. There are hundreds of talented youngsters in small towns and villages who are graduating in non-technical courses every year. They may be non-English speaking and non-cosmopolitan. Yet, they can handle technical side very effectively,’’ said Mathews. According to the G-Tech proposal, over 50 IT clusters needs to be formed in rural and semi-rural areas. Each cluster will employ 100 to 200 people every year. In five years, a batch of apprentices complete an MCA degree along with their part time IT job. The stipend will increase every year. ‘’By that time, they will be ready to fly and get absorbed in any leading company,’’ Mathews said. "It is a quasi-educational, quasi-professional and quasi-skill development programme for empowering the rural youth’’. At least four leading software majors - TCS, IBS, UST Global and SunTech- have conveyed to the G-Tech their willingness to set up clusters. ‘’We would like to see the government as a facilitator. They need to provide built-up areas in the designated towns to run the clusters,’’ said Mathews. Another important suggestion in the proposal is the joint marketing of the state in national and international forums to improve the profile of the state. The partnership model can be implemented by creating an ‘Invest in Kerala Mission’ under the state government. The G-Tech has requested the government to consider Kerala-based IT companies while awarding state projects.
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