Education in India

Initiatives and Status on Human Resource Development in Information Technology in Union States and Territories

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Maharashtra

•  Keeping in view of the growing importance of Information Technology Government of Maharashtra has taken a holistic approach regarding the Information Technology and related activities The State Government has prepared the I.T.Vision for galloping development in this field.

•  Government of Maharashtra has decided to set up Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation by investing Rs. 5.00 crores. The main objective of the Corporation is to provide I.T. Enabled education in all Universities, Colleges and other educational institutions. Also it aims at not to allow the digital divide to take place in Maharashtra and to make positive efforts to impart knowledge and skills to the poor unprivileged rural youth in the field of computer and Information Technology at very reasonable cost .

•  Government of Maharashtra has established Network Access Centres in all educational institutions with private participation through which Government has launched Maharashtra State Certificate Course in Information Technology (MSCIT) for 10.00 lakhs students and 50,000 teachers in Industrial Training institutions(I.T.Is.), Polytechnics, and Arts, Science, Commerce, B.Ed. and Engineering Colleges for building basic computer literacy functional skills

•  Government has introduced computer education in schools through private participation on charging reasonable fees i.e. upto Rs. 50/- per student. In schools until now 5000 teachers have taken computer training through Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education.

•  Government has also established Computer Banks at district level for providing the computers to needy schools at local level. Various alternatives such as assistance from Cooperative sectors, Industries, local development programmes fund (M.P./M.L.A. funds) have been made available to schools for setting up of computer labs. From these various alternatives about 30% of total 14000 schools in the State are equipped with the computers having value Rs. 7.00 crores.

•  6,000 additional seats in I.T. and related courses in the Engineering colleges and 3,000 additional seats in the Polytechnics have been intrtroduced from the academic year 2001-02

•  IT literacy made compulsory for entry and promotions in Govt. Service.

•  IT introduced as optional subject in schools from 5th standard onwards.

•  Interest free loans for purchase of computers to the staff above a particular level Programme for training of staff launched. Already 1,00,000 employees trained.

•  Re-imbursement of expenses incurred on training by the staff. approved for re-imbursement. 5 training centres, with state of the art facilities, set up at Mantralaya. Training centres being set-up at each district Collectorate.

•  A State-wide Network connecting 3,000 offices spread over the entire length and breadth of the State at all the district headquarters, to start with, is at advanced stage of implementation. Connectivity upto Taluka level planned .

•  A series of software technology parks have been set up like International Infotech park, New Mumbai; Millennium Business Park, New Mumbai; Pune Infotech Park, Pune; SEEPZ, Mumbai.

•  A hardware park is also being established near to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, New Mumbai

•  It has decided to link two major Cities Pune-Mumbai by knowledge Corridor with Optic fiber cable.

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