UP to promote IT sector

Lucknow, April 2 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government Monday decided to give a fresh impetus to the IT sector and involve it in education, health, industry and governance.

The move came after a two-hour meeting Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had with HCL chairman Shiv Nadar.

Earlier, in his presentation before the chief minister, Nadar said that integration of IT with governance could yield wonderful results and could involve more people in sectors like health and higher education.

He also proposed that 20 primary schools in 2012 and 100 primary schools in 2013 be included in financial funding by the Shiv Nadar Foundation.

Akhilesh Yadav earlier told Nadar that he wished that computers were used like mobiles in the state.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government rolled out a red carpet welcome for Nadar and his seven-member delegation as it landed in a chartered flight.

The meeting was called to decide on the possible and prompt modalities of rolling out the ambitious election promise of giving free Tablets to students who pass Class X and a laptop to all those who clear Class XII.

A close aide said the chief minister was more focused on the availability and a time frame for giving away the laptops and tablets.

The move is likely to cost the government Rs.1,819 crore - calculated at Rs.10,000 a laptop and Rs.1,000 per tablet.

A total of 22.93 lakh students passed the Class X exam through the UP Board last year and 15.90 lakh appeared for the Class XII or Intermediate exam.