Ravi Shankar Prasad meets IT leaders in Bangalore

Bangalore on Tuesday hosted Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for the first time since his appointment.

The event was organised by information technology (IT) body Nasscom and software product think tank Indian Software Product Industry Round Table (iSPIRT). IT leaders raised concerns on policies and doing business in the country. Others shared their ideas on strengthening the Indian IT ecosystem.

The meeting, parts of which were closed-door, was attended by Wipro Chairman Azim Premji; Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik; Microsoft Ventures Director Ravi Narayan; Infosys Delivery Excellence Head Srinath Batni; Mindtree Chief Executive Krishnakumar Natarajan; Mastek Founder Ashank Desai; and Info Edge Founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani, among others.

Referring to his visit to Bangalore as 'IT Panchayat', Prasad said this was his maiden trip outside of Delhi ever since he took charge as a minister, which is a 'signal' and a 'mission statement' with respect to the style of functioning of the new government.

"If you ask me, they (IT industry representatives) did not have much of grievances; what they wanted was a sense of sentimental patronage by me and that's why I am here, to give them the recognition that I am with you and I stand by you. That is why I am here," Prasad told reporters at the end of all the meetings.

Prasad, who is also the minister for law and justice, said the newly elected National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government will focus on two major milestones, including broadband connectivity across rural India and electronics manufacturing in the country.

The new government has initiated efforts to speed up the process for setting up of semiconductor chip fabrication (fab) units in the country, he said. "I had personal chats with people behind the fab projects. I have asked them to do it on a fast-track basis and we are going to stand behind them because I realise the potential that once a fab facility is established, India is going to expand enormously in everything from chip design to manufacturing," he said. He added that the government is looking to create structure like Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) to further incentivise fabs.

The government is currently shortlisting consultants who will appraise the detailed project reports submitted by the two consortiums who bid for the project. Infrastructure company Jaypee Associates and home-grown chip firm Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (HSMC) lead the two existing consortiums.

While Prasad assured industry representatives that he would look into the matters relating to taxes and duties on electronics manufacturing, he also questioned industry leaders about other reasons why India has been a laggard in the sector. Electronics manufacturing, he said, is "a priority" for the new government, and sought feedback on what can be done to give a boost to the sector.

"Why can't we manufacture mobiles?" he asked. "I understand there is a duty structure issue, and we are trying to address it, but that cannot be the only reason why the sector did not grow," he said.

He also said that broadband connectivity to villages is an agenda of great priority for the government.

"When I had joined the government I had made a statement that if Mr. Vajpayee's government was known for national highway, Mr. Modi's government will be known for.

broadband highway," Prasad said. "Broadband connectivity is an agenda of great priority for us. The Prime Minister has clearly instructed us that we must have broadband in all the villages of India."