Microsoft to help Rajasthan in IT, healthcare

Microsoft to help Rajasthan in IT, healthcare

Special Correspondent

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/09/stories/2006070905710500.htm

A joint statement on partnership was released on Saturday

FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates at Redmond, USA. Standing next to them is State Education Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Government and the Microsoft Corporation have decided to work together in IT education, e-governance, healthcare and women empowerment through information and computer technology. Both have agreed to curb software piracy and take initiatives to enhance the status of Rajasthan to that of a progressive and advanced IT State.

The decisions follow a meeting between Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in Redmont, USA on Thursday. Rajasthan Education Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari, Gerri Elliott, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector and senior bureaucrats and functionaries of Microsoft were present on the occasion. A joint statement on partnership was released on Saturday.

“The meeting was about devising an effective roll-out plan for technology deployment. We appreciate the keen interest demonstrated by Microsoft for working towards an effective government-private partnership in making Rajasthan an IT progressive State. Our Government is focused on leveraging information technology for all round sustainable development,” Ms.Raje, who is presently abroad, said. Three strategic areas on which agreement was reached were IT literacy amongst government and school teachers; ushering in e-governance at a more rapid pace, especially in healthcare and tourism; and empowering women through ICT interventions. The Rajasthan Government would set up a working group to prepare inputs into the e-governance framework and a roadmap for the State with representation from key officers of the Government and executives of the Microsoft. The group will examine the components of the vision presented by Ms.Raje during the meeting.

“We are delighted to be working with the Rajasthan Government towards our common goal of bridging the digital divide and taking the benefits of technology to people across various socio-economic sections of society,” observed Elliott.

The meeting discussed how Rajasthan could be a role model for enforcing protection of intellectual property rights and curbing piracy of software in the country. “In the emerging global knowledge economy, an eco system that respects intellectual property will reap the benefits of intellectual capital,” Ms.Raje noted.

Elliott thanked Ms.Raje for her initiative on creating an environment for legal software in the State and help build the intellectual property in software in the country.

“We look forward to a long term association with the State Government in the coming years,” Elliot said.