If there was some inordinate delay in taking further from where it was decided and approved by the Administrative Council in early March this year, the much required Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) policy, by duly notifying it now and making it applicable with immediate effect in Jammu and Kashmir, the impact of the delay would not be felt looking to what it brings in its wake. How can this part of the country with tremendous potential and talent as well as yearning for attaining digital prosperity, be found lagging behind other major states of the country ? There being a tremendous scope for spreading and adopting digital literacy to promote and sustain commerce, business activities, self employment, marketing, educational curriculum , various economic benefits etc in Jammu and Kashmir, the IT Policy announced by the UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir needs to be made the best use of by all concerned. The provision that at least one female member in each family must be digital literate shows the extent and the scope of the policy for one and all to make hay while the sun of the IT revolution shone all around. The policy shall, however, remain applicable for a period of 10 years.
Information Technology can prove to be as an engine for sustainable growth of the economy besides being instrumental in an improved quality of life. One speciality as perceived in the IT is that as a major driver towards contributing to economic prosperity and being instrumental towards raising the GDP, is in its being a potential driving growth factor for the foreseeable future also and not remaining limited to a few years. Possessing varied branches to leave vast scope to have lavish investments to reap dividends to export and to enhance the trade turnover, IT services like network security data management, business process management, software produce design for the industry and the like provide a solid platform. We know the scope of data collection and management which has virtually penetrated in every sphere not as a substitute to conventional methods but as the most reliable, swift, easy to retrieve and store information which we require at every stage of planning at micro and macro levels. Other services like resiliency and business continuity services, internet, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, cyber forensics, 3D printing and other services leaves one aghast with what the IT is really all about and its inherent potential to be of immense use. The UT Government proposes, vide the ITES Policy, to explore the best possible utility to harness its benefits but it is easy to say so than to get it on board to operate to prove as a reliable engine of economic growth. That is where huge investments, though Rs.500 crore proposed annually plus large scale popularity and initiatives along with target oriented goals, could really prove the policy its worth.
That the UT Government proposes to make use of the IT in promoting the Tourism industry, the backbone of the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, is not only commendable but the idea to have such an approach so as to enhance tourism related entrepreneurship and cause a boost to the country’s foreign exchange earnings by promoting an increased tourist footfall of foreigners augers well for the scope of the IT Policy in the long run. We need to go in for an aggressive promoting of adding new courses and latest subjects regarding the IT in our college and university courses, even at school levels. In the same way, lot of improvement and progress could be achieved besides education, in other sectors like health, industries, commerce, power and the like. Are there enough facilities and opportunities made hassles free for entrepreneurship pursuits, in that connection, it is a matter of satisfaction that chances of interplaying of red-tape and lengthy procedures and paper work are proposed to be done away with by introducing ‘Single Window’ clearance for power, pollution control, land allotment, units’ registration, Bank credits and other requirements. Any type of implementation of a policy with as much promise and intrinsic potential like the one under reference, must have a grievances redressing system as well and the announced ITES Policy is wedded to such a mechanism thus promising to set in motion, a small but effective IT revolution in Jammu and Kashmir. Let us hope that the digital adaptation in the UT exceeds the most optimistic forecasts made by the authors of the ITES Policy. For that, vigorous and regular follow up, monitoring and getting feedback from grass root levels are quite imperative and non- negotiable.
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