Govt to come up with IT action plan soon

quot;The concerned ministers will come together to prepare anagenda paper for referring to the Cabinet Committe on Information Technology,quot; he said, adding the formulation of this agenda paper would be taken up by his ministry as soon as the Finance Bill was passed by the Parliament.

Mahajan said of the 108 total recommedations by the taskforce set up on software, 56 have been completely implemented, while 27 have not yet been implemented. Of the remaining, action on 22 is on-going while only three of the recommendatiosn made by this task force have not been accepted.

While asserting that an ideal IT ministry should compriseof electronics, broadcasting and telecommunication also, Mahajan said that this was in line with convergence of voice, data and video happening worldwide.

quot;I am aware of the convergence phenomenon in the ITarea but this is not feasible in the country at present,quot; he said.

The Minister said that the much-delayed IT Bill would bepassed in the current Parliament session and he would ensure that industry reactions were taken care of.

quot;I8217;ll compare the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee with industry8217;s suggestions and incorporate the necessary amedments,quot; Mahajan said adding that he hoped the bill would be passed before May 17, when the current Parliament session ends.