Chief minister Naveen Patnaik releases a report at an IT convention in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 24: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled The Information and Communication Technology Policy-2014 today.

The policy aims to create direct employment opportunities for 60,000 professionals in 800 IT and electronic system design and manufacturing units in the next six years. It also aims to achieve gross ICT turnover, including exports of software and IT services of Rs 24,000 crore, by 2020.

Moreover, the state will create a built-up space of 60,00,000sqft and develop 2,000 acres for the sector.

“To accommodate the future development in IT and electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), the state government is designing one IT investment region on the southern part of Bhubaneswar,” said Naveen at the event.

The state government is in the process of setting up state resident data hub (SRDH) — an inventory of basic facts about every resident of the state.

“We intend to unify the Aadhar card information with additional information such postal address, bank accounts and photographs of people and created the state resident data. This would be gradually fed with other information,” said state IT secretary M.S. Padhi on the sidelines of e-Odisha, an IT convention here today.

Padhi said: “The record about citizens would come handy in future and it can be used for socio-economic surveys and implementation of the welfare scheme.”

The one-day e-summit provided a unique platform for speakers and delegates to exchange their experiences, ideas, challenges and opportunity in the field of e-governance.

“With the successful rollout of e-district project to all 30 districts for six services, the e-governence has reached the nook and corner of Odisha. More public services will be delivered to citizens at doorsteps,” said Naveen adding that the state government has started distribution of free laptops to 15,000 meritorious students who have cleared Plus Two.

Director-general of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Omkar Rai said while national growth was stuck in 10 per cent, the sector development in Odisha especially Bhubaneswar touched 20 per cent growth rate. Bhubaneswar is now in the same league of Chandigarh, Kerala and Coimbatore.