Information Technology: The ground has been prepared

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Indian IT-BPO industry achieved a unique landmark in the year 2012 by crossing the aggregate revenue figure of $100 Billion. India now boasts of about 58% of the global sourcing industry showcasing competitiveness and effectiveness of Indian service providers. West Bengal, however, was a very late beginner in this sector and hence, it contributes only 2.6% of India’s software revenue. But the recent efforts by the West Bengal government show the intent to further improve this position and establish Bengal as an IT destination.


Government takes the lead

West Bengal won the Silver Medal for number and scope of e-Governance initiatives taken by the government in ‘Dataquest-CMR e-Readiness Awards 2013’. Some of the notable steps by the government are Integrated Finance Management System (IFMS), State Statistical Strengthening Programme (SSSP), Employment Bank and Labour Helpline, State Spatial Data Infrastructure (SSDI), National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) etc.

e-District: Various government services like providing caste certificates, trade license, certificate of death, residential certificate, income certificate etc. are now being provided through kiosks in rural areas.

e-Office: Two offices of District Magistrates, Department of Information Technology and Staff Selection Commission, have been made completely paper free and plans of implementing this system in other offices are in progress. Also, system of digitization of official documents has been introduced in the office of District Magistrate of Darjeeling and similar projects are now going on in 12 more districts.

Data warehousing and better communication: The entire official digital database has now been stored in the new State Data Centre which has been ISO certified for information security. The West Bengal State Wide Area Network has been refurbished to implement the various e-Governance initiatives and have faster communication between various government departments and 500 block offices.


Creating a platform for industry

The government has come up with a new policy for information technology with a vision to become one of the leading States in India in the IT and ITeS and ESDM sectors. The government wants to transform the state into a knowledge-driven welfare society with extensive use of IT and ITeS in governance. In this policy, there is a holistic approach to encourage more investment in IT with single window clearances, skill development through new educational institutes and providing land for necessary infrastructure.

Information Technology centers: 13 new IT parks are being constructed in various districts across the state. First phase of construction has already been completed at Durgapur and Siliguri with investors already booking all the available space. A new IT hub and incubation centre is being constructed in Taratala, Kolkata.

Hardware Parks: Two hardware parks and two electronics manufacturing clusters are being constructed in the state, which exhibits the government’s thrust upon hardware, gaming and electronics industry.

Centre of excellence: From this year onwards, Indian Institute of Information Technology Kalyani (IIIT) will commence its operations, to prepare a talent pool of IT professionals. The Microsoft Centre of Excellence will start functioning soon in Salt Lake.


Parting thought

Past 34 months has seen 40% increase in the number of IT professionals working in the state with all the major IT firms looking to increase their base in the state. This period also witnessed a 31% growth in export revenue from IT industry which increased from Rs 8,500 Crores to Rs 11,200 Crores. With noble initiatives such as providing special computers with ‘Braille Monitors’  being provided to blind states and special learning kits to scheduled caste dominated schools, this government could become an example to other states who are currently lagging in IT revolution, on how to use IT for governance and welfare schemes and also grow the sector.

Agricultural Production

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


In West Bengal, 68 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. It is thanks to the farmers that West Bengal is a rice-surplus state and the number one producers of rice in the country. Naturally, the State’s policies would be focused on agriculture.

Under the Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal Government, the State’s performance in agriculture has been remarkable. The farmers are receiving good returns on investment for rice. At the same time, the production of cereal has increased from 148 lakh tons in 2010-11 to 173 lakh tons in 2013-14. This increase in production, despite the thrust in production of low-yielding fine rice, is especially noteworthy. The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal Government has also taken initiatives to increase the export of coarse rice and consequently increase the production of fine rice.

To increase the overall agricultural production with major focus on fine and aromatic rice- which brings higher revenue to the farmer, the Government has implemented several steps.

Purification and distributions of seeds: The government has started purification of the Tulaipanji variety of seeds as well as the distribution and increase in the area of production.

Exhibitionary fields: The government is providing training in modern technology with high quality seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural implements in agricultural exhibitionary fields of 4, 66,038 hectares.

Hybrid corn: The government is encouraging farmers to grow hybrid corn, peanut and pulses, through training in modern farming in Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts.

Meteorological centres: The work of setting up of 145 automatic agro-meteorological centres across the State have been started, of which, the construction of 47 automatic meteorological centers have already been completed.

Distribution of farm equipment: Providing tractors, power tillers, power reapers, pump sets to 67,186 of farmers at government subsidized price and direct transfer of government subsidy to the farmers’ account for purchasing small agricultural equipment has been successfully made available for the first time. The government has also started the ‘Aamar Phasal and Aamar Gola’ scheme under which one time financial grants are being given to small and marginal farmers for storage facility for their produce.

Agro-education: With the objective of promoting agro-education, new campuses of the State Agricultural University have been opened in Burdwan and Bankura districts. Additionally, an agricultural college will soon open its gates at Tapan, Dakshin Dinajpur.

State Seed Laboratories: These laboratories have been opened at Krishnanagar and Bankura. To promote modern scientific education in agriculture, ‘Matir katha’- a unique initiative, has been stated by Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal. This project aims at disseminating information on agriculture, new government programmes, VDOs relating to agro-extension, educational documentary films and such, to farmers with the help of modern technology. This serves the objective of agricultural extension and rural development.

Crop Insurance: 15 horticultural crops have been brought under the purview of crop-insurance. This initiative has encouraged farmers to cultivate these crops.

Onion-Farming: West Bengal produces nearly 3.04 lakh tones of onion during the rabi season. The estimated demand is around 3.33 lakh tones. To be self sufficient in demand, the Government of West Bengal has initiated onion production during the kharif season.