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» Information
Technology Policy, 2000
INDUSTRIES
& COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
NOTIFICATION
The 17th June, 2000
No. : MI.102/99/115:
The Governor of Assam pleased
to order that the Information
Technology Policy of Assam,
2000 as enunciated in the enclosed
document will come into force
with effect from the date of
publication in the extra-ordinary
gazette and will remain in operation
till such time as the State
Government may consider it fit
and proper. The Government also
reserves the right to make any
amendment of the policy from
time to time.
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY POLICY OF ASSAM,
2000 (ITPA, 2000)
INTRODUCTION
Information
Technology (IT) occupies a key
position in our modern age and
is one of the fasted growing
sectors in the world economy.
Applications of IT have become
pervasive, covering all spheres
of life. Government of Assam
has recognised this fact and
has formulated the policy below
keeping in mind all facets of
IT.
OBJECTIVES
OF THE POLICY
The basic
objectives of the Information
Technology Policy of Assam shall
be:
| 1. |
To
accord primacy for the growth
of Information Technology
industry for the purpose
of socio-economic development
of the state. |
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| 2. |
To accelerate the use
of Information Technology
industry at the Government
Level with the view to provide
better services to the citizens
of the state. |
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| 3. |
To improve productivity
and efficiency of the Government
services to the citizens
of the state. |
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| 4. |
To serve an important
tool to enhance employability
as well absorb a major portion
of the educated unemployed
in the state. |
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| 5. |
To enable the state reach
an eminent position in the
Information Technology sector. |
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| 6. |
To encourage and accelerate
the growth of both the domestic
and the expert oriented
IT units in the state and
make the state an attractive
destination for IT investment
within India and abroad. |
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| 7. |
To encourage and accelerate
the use of Information Technology
in schools, colleges and
educational institutions
in the state to enable the
youth to acquire necessary
skills and knowledge in
this sector making them
highly employable. |
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| 8. |
To set-up training institutes
in the private sector and
the joint sector in order
to prepare skilled manpower
within the existing system. |
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| 9. |
To organize Manpower Development
Training in the field of
Computer Applications for
the successful implementation
of the Information Technology
Policy of Assam. |
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| 10. |
To develop appropriate
networks between various
departments and different
spatially spread out administrative
hierarchies through well
designed database management
systems. |
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| 11. |
To encourage the spread
of IT in the private sector.
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SALIENT
FEATURES OF THE POLICY
The salient
features for the Information
Technology Policy of Assam shall
be:
1. Information
Technology Policy for the Government
Administration:
| 1.1. |
The Industry & Commerce
Department would function
as nodal department, for
implementation of the IT
policy, which would co-ordinate
with all the other department
of the Government of Assam
in order to ensure that
the detailed objectives
and goals of the IT Policy
are achieved. |
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| 1.2. |
The Government shall endeavour
to have connectivity among
all its offices within 2004
so that communication can
flow through e-mail/video
conferencing etc. to enhance
productivity. The Government
shall endeavour to provide
video conferencing &
e-mail facilities in all
district head quarters to
enable communication with
the State Secretariat. |
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| 1.3. |
The Government shall endeavour
to improve the process of
governance so that citizens
could file their documents
required by the Government
electronically. Web applications
would be developed in the
language of the State. |
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| 1.4. |
The Government shall endeavour
to put in place training
programme to enable all
government employees to
use Information Technology
to enhance productivity. |
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| 1.5. |
The Government shall make
special budget allocation
of at least 2-3% of the
plan fund allocated to the
Government departments every
year to complete its computerization
programmes in each Department.
An IT sub-plan would be
formulated department-wise
and closely monitored. |
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| 1.6. |
The Government shall improve
infrastructure such as lying
of communication cables
for interconnecting the
departments, setting up
of data transfer exchanges,
routers etc, and ensure
reliable power supply, transport
system etc. to improve the
quality of works. |
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| 1.7. |
The Government shall encourage
the use of Information Technology
in all educational institutions
by way of giving special
grants every year to enable
them to put up the necessary
infrastructure. Connectivity
between the various educational
institutions would also
be established by 2004. |
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| 1.8. |
The Government shall with
the help of the industry
start training programmes
for teachers to help them
use information technology
in the teaching process. |
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| 1.9. |
The Government shall endeavour
to teach the school level
children the use of computers
and to impart training through
computers. All college students
in the state of Assam would
be encouraged to undertake
three months course in the
use of information technology
and in working on computer
by 2004. |
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| 2.0. |
The Government shall endevour
to increase the number of
college students specializing
in Information Technology
to meet the needs of the
Information Technology industry
to cater to both the export
and the domestic market.
The syllabi for specialization
in computer education would
be standardized and recognized
to make it more relevant.
The education department
would monitor the placements
on offer and make suitable
changes in the design of
courses according to the
needs of the jobs. |
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| 2.1. |
The Government shall strengthen
the Assam Electronics Development
Corporation Limited (AEDC
Ltd.). AEDC will play the
role of facilitator and
assist various Government
departments in selection
of appropriate Hardware,
Software and training programmes
in accordance with their
needs. |
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| 2.2. |
For specialized training
in emerging areas of Computer
and Communication Technology,
Government shall consider
sponsoring employees of
various Government departments,
undertakings, autonomous
organizations and other
non-governmental organizations
to institutions situated
within or outside the State.
All efforts would be made
to set-up an autonomous
IIIT at Guwahati with assistance
from Private sector and
Union Government. |
3. Information
Technology Policy for the Industry:
| 3.1. |
Government shall set-up
a Software Technology Park
(STP) at Guwahati in the
first phase with comprehensive
infrastructural facilities
of adequate power, water
and telecommunication facilities.
Adequate residential areas
shall also be developed
in and around the STP to
enable easy accessibility
to the professionals working
in the STP units. |
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| 3.2. |
Government shall encourage
the private sector for establishment
of STPs in the State of
Assam. |
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| 3.3. |
Government shall permit
establishment of the IT
industries in residential
areas. |
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| 3.4. |
The government shall endeavour
to set up an electronic
sub-urban town in an appropriate
location having fully developed
integrated infrastructural
facilities. This Electronic
City shall be solely for
the use of the Information
Technology Industry and
allied services. The State
Government will encourage
private sector participation
in development of such infrastructure. |
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| 3.5. |
The Government shall co-ordinate
and liaison with the Software
Technology Park of India
(STPI), the nodal agency
for development for the
software industry and organizations
such as Videsh Sanchar Nigam
Limited (VSNL), Department
of Electronics, Department
of Telecommunication, National
Informatic Centre and other
such organizations of Government
of India to expand communication
links in the state of Assam.
These agencies shall be
encouraged to set up gateways
and earth stations and Government
shall try to provide land/
building/ space and other
facilities whenever needed
on priority basis. |
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| 3.6. |
In order to ensure that
the Information Technology
industries in the state
are in a position to meet
international quality certification
like ISO 9000 etc. and Software
Engineering Institute (SEI)
certification which are
insisted by International
companies, efforts would
be made to establish such
an organization or its branch
at Guwahati, which shall
be authorized to issue certifications
as may be necessary. |
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| 3.7. |
For development of 100%
Export Oriented Unit (EOU)
in Assam, Government of
India would be requested
to designate an Officer
at Guwahati to grant necessary
clearances/ and approvals
under 100% Export Oriented
Scheme. |
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| 3.8. |
Information Technology
industries in the State
would be assisted with the
development of telecommunication
network in the state for
which Government and its
agencies would constantly
liase and co-ordinate with
Department of Telecommunication
and draw up time bound action
plans for up-gradation and
strengthening of telecommunication
networks. As a sort term
measure, development agencies
of the Government of Assam
viz. Assam Industrial Development
Corporation Limited, Assam
Small Industries Development
Corporation Limited, Assam
Electronics Development
Corporation Limited &
Assam Industrial Infrastructure
Development Corporation
Limited shall make block
bookings for telecommunication
connections in potential
area and locations. This
would ensure that entrepreneurs
who come forward to set-up
Information Technology Industry
can be sanctioned telecommunication
facilities immediately on
application. |
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| 3.9. |
Government shall endevour
to arrange financial assistance
to the Information Technology
industries to be established
and set-up in the state.
Government will initiate
dialogue with the Banks
and Financial Institutions
to evolve a suitable procedure
for obtaining finance for
the units on a priority
basis. The State Government
would create a corpus of
funds as venture capital
fund with AIDC to provide
assistance to the IT sector.
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DEFINITIONS
AND ELIGIBILITY
Information
Technology includes Information
Technology and Telecommunications.
Information
Technology Industry includes
IT hardware and software industries,
IT software industry includes
IT software, IT service and
IT enable services, but excludes
training institutions in this
field.
Information
Technology infrastructure means
the the physical infrastructure
built by the Central Government,
State Government, a firm, a
builder and sold to an IT industry
for its own use or the infrastructure
built by an IT industry for
its own use.
New unit means
an IT unit which has commenced
commercial production on or
after the date on which the
policy has been notified.
Existing unit
means an IT unit, which is or
was in commercial operation
at any time prior to the date
on which the policy has been
notified.
100% Export
Oriented Unit means as IT unit,
which undertakes to export its
entire value added goods subject
to relaxation as permitted by
the Government of India from
time to time.
Fixed Capital
means and includes cost of land
& its development, building
including operational space,
godown, laboratory, plant&
Machinery & its installation
cost, pre-operative expanses
capitalised, Electrical and
such other equipment which are
directly related to operational
activity.
EXPANSION
on an IT unit means additional
fixed capital investment exceeding
at least 25% of the capital
investment of the existing unit.
for the purpose of calculation,
gross value of all capital investment
made on land, building and plant
and machinery of the existing
unit will be taken into consideration.
Expansion shall also imply an
increase of at least 25% in
the existing installed capacity
as well as an increase in additional
employment by at least 10%.
MODERNISATION
means separately identifiable
investment made by an industrial
unit involving new/ improved
technology having definite advantages
in reduction of cost of production
provided the additional investment
in fixed assets should not be
less than 25% of the gross fixed
capital.
Eligibility
:
All industries
defined as IT industries shall
be eligible for the incentives
enumerated.
The units
undergoing expansion/ modernisation
shall be eligible for incentives
for the increased capacity created
after expansion/ modernisation
of the existing unit.
Incentives
for promotion of investment
in IT sector: Incentives
shall be available to the new
units as well as to the existing
units undergoing expansion/
modernisation. The package of
incentives shall be as follows:
1. Sales Tax
Exemption:
All new units
and existing units undergoing
substantial expansion/ modernisation/
diversification shall be granted
sales tax exemption on sale
of finished products, value
added products and purchase
of capital goods and raw materials
for the following period. However,
sales tax exemption for purchase
of capital goods will be given
only if such goods are purchased
locally:
a) New units
10 years
b) Existing units 10 years
(Under going
expansion/ modernisation)
( A separate
notification will be issued
by the Finance (Taxation) Department
in this regard)
However, the
sales tax exemption will reviewed
by the Industries and Commerce
Department after 5 years to
decide their continuation or
otherwise.
2. Power Subsidy:
Power subsidy
shall be available for a period
of 5 years from the date of
going into commercial production.
The amount of subsidy shall
be 50% subject to a ceiling
of Rs. 5.00 lakhs per year.
3. Subsidy
on Generating set:
The subsidy
on captive generating set including
non-conventional energy generation
set shall be 50% of the cost
of the generating set subject
to a ceiling of Rs. 10.00 lakhs
per industrial unit.
4. State Capital
Investment Subsidy:
State Capital
Investment subsidy of 30% on
the capital investment on land,
building, plant & machinery
etc. subject to a ceiling of
Rs. 10.00 lakhs shall be provided
to an IT unit under the policy.
For 100% EOU and for units run
by women, S.C. and S.T entrepreneurs
the ceiling of subsidy shall
be Rs. 15.00 lakhs.
5. Subsidy
on Infrastructure:
50% subsidy
on shed rent payable to STPI
shall be available for a period
of three years from the date
of going into commercial operational
subject to a ceiling of Rs.
2 lakhs per annum.
6. Subsidy
on Hot line/ Lease line connectivity:
30% subsidy
on Hot line/ Lease line connectivity
paid to STPI or VSNL Subject
to a ceiling of Rs. 5.00 lakhs
per annum shall be available
to the units for a period of
three years from the date of
commercial operation.
7. Manpower
Development subsidy:
Subsidy on
Manpower development shall be
provided in respect of training/
technical upgradation/ Skill
upgradation of local persons
in a recognised training organisation/
institution subject to the following
ceiling
Investment
in fixed capital Total ceiling
Up to Rs.
20.00 lakhs Rs. 1.50 lakhs
Above Rs. 20.00 lakhs to Rs.
25.00 lakhs Rs. 2.00 lakhs
Above Rs. 25.00 lakhs to Rs.
50.00 lakhs Rs. 3.00 lakhs
Above Rs. 50.00 lakhs to Rs.
100.00 lakhs Rs. 5.00 lakhs
Above Rs. 100.00 lakhs and above
Rs. 10.00 lakhs
The above
amount shall be available for
a period of five years from
the date of commercial operation
of the unit only.
8. Subsidy
Quality Certification:
50% of the
cost for getting ISO:9000, Software
Engineering Institute (SEI)
certification and Quality Assurance
Institute (QAI) certification
shall be subsidised subject
to a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakhs.
For mega projects
the Government would consider
special incentives on a case
basis in addition to the benefits
already provided. A Mega projectmay
be define as one having investment
of 100 crores and more.
Special incentives
for IT enable industries
In addition
to the benefits provided to
IT Industries the following
benefits shall be provided for
IT enable services:
| 1. |
Power subsidy shall be
available for a period of
5 year from the date of
going into commercial production.
The amount of subsidy shall
be 60% subject to a ceiling
of Rs. 10.00 lakhs per year. |
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| 2. |
The subsidy can be captive
generating set including
non-conventional energy
generation set shall be
60% of the cost of the generating
set subject to a ceiling
of Rs. 15.00 lakhs per industrial
unit. |
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| 3. |
State Capital Investment
subsidy of 40% on the capital
investment on land, building,
plant & machinery etc.
subject to a ceiling of
Rs. 15.00 lakhs shall be
provided to an IT unit under
the policy. |
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| 4. |
60% subsidy on shed rent
payable to STPI shall be
available for a period of
three years from the date
of going into commercial
operation subject to a ceiling
of Rs. 5.00 lakhs per annum. |
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| 5. |
40% subsidy on Hot Line/
Leased line connectivity
paid to STPI or VSNL, subject
to a ceiling of Rs. 10.00
lakhs per annum shall be
available to the units for
a period of three years
from the date of commercial
operation. |
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The eligibility
criteria specifically for the
IT enabled sector are as follows:
| a. |
The unit should provide
employment for minimum 100
local person. |
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| b. |
Employment should be provided
for a minimum period of
three years. |
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| c. |
A minimum wage of at least
Rs. 4500 per month per employee
shall be provided by the
unit. |
The Government
would take all necessary steps
to exempt the IT Industry in
health working condition from
the relevant provisions of the
following regulations:
| a. |
Factories Act, 1948 |
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| b. |
Employment Exchange (Compulsory
notification of vacancies)
Act, 1959 |
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| c. |
Payment Wages Act, 1936 |
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| d. |
Minimum Wages Act, 1948 |
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| e. |
Contract Labour (Regulation
& Abolition) Act, 1970 |
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| f. |
Workmen Compensation Act,
1923 |
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| g. |
shops & Establishment
Act, 1971 |
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| h. |
Employees State Insurance
Act, 1948 |
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| i. |
Zoning Regulations under
the Gauhati Metropolitan
Authority Act, 1985 (Notification
for zoning vide No. TCP
79/83/56, dated 25.09.1986
published in Gazette on
24.12.1986). |
Implementing
Agency The Industries &
Commerce Department would be
the nodal agency for implementation
of Information Technology Policy
of Assam on behalf of the State
Government. The policy shall
come into effect from the date
of notification of this policy
till such time, the Government
may consider it fit and proper.
The Government also reserves
the right to make any amendments
in the policy.
Eligibility
Certificate
| 1. |
Eligibility Certificate
is a certificate, which
shall be issued by the Udyog
Sahayak Cell to be constituted
at the Assam Electronics
Development Corporation
Limited for the purpose
of implementation of this
policy. |
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| 2. |
No right or claim for
any incentives under the
Policy shall be deemed to
have been conferred by the
Policy mearly by virtue
of the fact that the unit
of its part has fulfilled
the conditions of the scheme. |
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| 3. |
The incentives under the
scheme cannot be claimed
unless the Final Eligibility
Certificate has been issued
under the Policy by the
implementing agency and
the unit has complied with
stipulations/ conditions
of the Eligibility Certificate. |
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| 4. |
The decision of the implementing
agency, subject to such
direction as Government
may issue from time to time
in this regard shall be
final and binding. |
PROCEDURES
FOR APPLICATION
Separate guidelines
for issuance of Eligibility
Certificate & submission
of claims for incentives would
be issued.
PRIORITY
FOR DISBURSEMENT
The disbursement
of the incentives by the implementing
agency shall be in accordance
with the chronological order
of approved claims. Priority
shall however be given to 100%
Export Oriented Units.
INTERPRETATION
The decision
of the Industries & Commerce
Department, Government of Assam,
as regards to interpretation
of the policy resolution/ incentives
scheme shall be final. The state
Government reserves the right
to increase or decrease the
incentives or frame new guidelines,
amend any provision(s) including
withdrawal of any of the incentives/
subsidies provided in this policy.
Implementation
and Monitoring of the Policy
1. Udyog Sahayak
Cell (USC) :
In order to
provide various information
and facilities to the IT industry
and to ensure proper delivery
of all services a separate Cell
known as Udyog Sahayak Cell
(USC) shall be created at the
Assam Electronics Development
Corporation Ltd. (a Government
of Assam undertaking). The primary
objectives of the USC shall
be to provide adequate information
to the entrepreneurs, identification
of projects and its implementation
and also to keep in touch with
similar organisation/ institution
on the line of IT within and
out side the state.
2. Function
of USC :
All administrative
Departments shall refer all
issues related to implementation
of the Information Technology
Policy to the USC and keep the
USC apprised of all actions
taken in this regard. USC will
perform the following functions:
Ensure adequate
publicity of the Information
Technology Policy of Assam,
2000 as well as render all assistance
to the entrepreneurs to avail
the benefit of the incentives.
Identification
of prospective entrepreneurs,
building up a data bank to guide
and motivate the entrepreneurs
and also to prepare a viable
project profiles in different
categories of investment.
Enlistment
of applications and issuance
of eligibility certificate under
the policy.
Co-ordinating
with the connected agencies/
administrative departments for
implementation of the IT Policy.
Proper and
effective implementation of
all incentives and issuance
of sanctions thereof.
To refer all
relevant issues to the Government
or to the Committees framed
thereunder for any matter connected
with implementation of the policy.
To take up
any other matter entrusted by
the Government from time to
time.
3. Procedures
for issuing eligibility certificate:
The application
for issuance of eligibility
certificate shall be submitted
to the Assam Electronics Development
Corporation Limited directly
for issuance of Eligibility
Certificate. The Government
shall issue a separate notification
on constitution of a committee
entrusted with the powers of
approval on the proposals.
4. Information
Technology Task Force :
An Information
Technology Task Force of the
State (ITTFS) shall be constituted
under the Chairmanship of the
Chief Minister to review the
implementation of the Policy
as per references given below
:
| 1. |
The Chief Minister of
Assam - Chairman |
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| 2. |
The Minister of Industries
& Commerce, Assam -
Vice-Chairman |
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| 3. |
The Chief Secretary of
Assam - Member |
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| 4. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Industries & Commerce
Department - Member |
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| 5. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Education Department - Member
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| 6. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Finance Department - Member
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| 7. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Science & Technology
Department - Member |
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| 8. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Planning & Development
Department - Member |
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| 9. |
Four representatives from
the IT industry to be nominated
by the Government. - Member
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| 10. |
The Director, IIT Guwahati
- Member |
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| 11. |
The Chief General Manager,
DOT, Assam, Assam Circle
- Member |
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| 12. |
The Director, STPI, Guwahati
- Member |
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| 13. |
The Managing Director,
AIDC Ltd. - Member |
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| 14. |
The General Manager, SIDBI
- Member |
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| 15. |
The Chairman, NEDFi -
Member |
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| 16. |
The Managing Director,
AEDC Ltd. - Member Secretary
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Chairman/
Vice-Chairman may co-opt at
least five expert(s) as member
of the committee :
Function
of the Committee :
To review
the implementation of Information
Technology Policy of Assam,
2000 and to make suggestions
for improvement in this regard
to the concerned departments
from time to time.
To advise
the State Government for constitution
of any sub-committee or any
study team for effective implementation
of the policy for the state.
To examine
the problems faced during the
implementation of the policy
and suggest remedial measures
to solves such problems.
To discuss
inter development co-ordination
problems to suggest remedial
measures.
To review
and monitor development of infrastructure
for IT Industry.
The Committee
shall meet as and when necessary
but not less than thrice in
a year with the approval of
the Chairman.
5. Inter Department
Information Technology Committee
:
To co-ordinate
inter departmental activities
to propagate development of
Information Technology in the
State and to monitor the development
in the sectors like education,
Industry etc. an Inter Departmental
Information Technology Committee
(IDITC) shall be constituted
under the Chairmanship of the
Chief Secretary as per references
given below :
| 1. |
The Chief Secretary, Government
of Assam - Chairman |
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| 2. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Industries & Commerce
Department - Member/ Secretary
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| 3. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Education Department - Member
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| 4. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Finance Department - Member |
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| 5. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Science & Technology
Departmen - Member |
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| 6. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Revenue Department - Member |
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| 7. |
The Commissioner &
Secretary/ Secretary to
the Government of Assam,
Planning & Development
Department - Member |
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| 8. |
The Managing Director,
AIDC Ltd. - Member |
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| 9. |
The Managing Director,
AEDC Ltd. - Member |
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| 10. |
The Director of Industries
& Commerce - Member
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Chairman may
co-opt at least two expert(s)
as members for the committee
:
Function
of the Committee will be as
follows :
To review
the implementation of Information
Technology Policy of Assam,
2000 and to make suggestions
to the Information Technology
Task Force from time to time.
To monitor
the implementation of the various
objectives of the policy and
to suggest growth of IT industries
in the State.
To examine
the problems faced during the
implementation of the policy
and suggest remedial measures.
To look into
the matters of different Government
departments in relation to IT.
The Committee
shall meet once in a quarter
in a year with the approval
of the chairman.
S.C. Das
Commissioner & Secretary
to the Government of Assam
Industries & Commerce Department.
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