IT 2010: $60 bn but 500,000 people too few

The report says the IT headcount will top targets set by the top four government-sponsored schemes to generate employment. It will also be the world’s biggest export grosser by 2010 and create a fresh tier of multi-billion dollar companies in India.

‘‘India can add $15-20 billion to its export revenues from IT. For this, companies need to innovate, but also, they need the best infrastructure possible,’’ said Satyam chairman and Nasscom Vice-Chairman Ramalinga Raju .

But for any of this to come true, a complete overhaul of the way India lives and teaches is necessary. To start with, 10 to 12 new townships on the outskirts of big cities are needed, as well as a series of custom-made education ‘‘SEZs’’ and tremendous investments in transportation, sanitation, power as well as water. ‘‘There is a lot of competitive pressure and to challenge it, India will need to focus on more than cost arbitrage — on quality and quantity in short. To do so, the right soft and hard infrastructure are essential,’’ said TCS CEO and Nasscom chairman S Ramadorai, .

‘‘The cities cannot add another 1-2 million employees. To get to $60 billion, another five integrated townships with residential and class A office space, malls and educational institutions are needed. Plus, 5 to 7 new Punes, including real estate to house and seat workers,’’ said Jayant Sinha, partner at McKinsey and Co.

India provides 28 per cent, or a majority, of the global labour employed by IT exporters, but to maintain this, the higher education system will need an overhaul too.

The current education system will leave short 500,000 people by 2010: that’s 150,000 less people for the ITES and 350,000 in BPOs, says the study. ‘‘To get the growth numbers, government will need to give industry and academia a degree of influence over the curriculum. There is need to go beyond the present curriculum and open up entirely new education zones,’’ said Nasscom president Kiran Karnik.