C-Dac to host SAARC meet on IT

Speaking to media persons today, C-DAC executive director R.K. Arora said the meeting would help SAARC nations to share knowledge in the areas of culture, heritage, science and technology.

It will discuss a proposal to set up a national centre for SAARC information technology to deal with multilingual informatics computing.

The ambitious proposal to telecast programmes over the entire SAARC region will also be discussed. “The C-DAC has the expertise in this field and multilingual TV programmes can be telecast using INSAT network, Arora said.

Major issues to be discussed include establishment of language technology development centres, computer training bureau in local languages and training centres for content creation, video subtitling and dubbing and CD publishing in SAARC countries.

Arora said spread and promotion of language technologies and products in SAARC countries will also be deliberated upon. More than 50 representatives are expected to take part. Replying to a question, Arora said the conference would offer opportunities for participants to find markets.

Ministries and government departments, IT institutions, research and development organisations related to language technology product development and people from IT media from India and abroad will take part. Ravindra Gupta, Secretary, department of electronics, will be the chief guest at the inaugural function, hosted by Ministry of External Affairs. Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, department of science and technology, will deliver the key-note address. Meera Shankar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, will attend the inaugural function.