Microsoft Corporation India Private Limited on Thursday announced a partnership with the government of West Bengal and Intel Technologies for the state-wide rollout of Gyandeep, the people's personal computer programme and Gyanbridhi, the student's PC programme, aimed at accelerating the state's information technology initiatives.
Under the partnership, two new programmes have been launched which include student's purchase programme and the government employees' PC purchase programme.
Gyanbridhi would offer the student community (class IX-XII in higher education) both the hardware and software at an equated monthly installment (EMI) of Rs 499.
It would also include the educational content as prescribed by the West Bengal State Education Board (WBSEB).
Gyandeep, specially designed PC solution bundle for government employees would be made available at an EMI of Rs 399. Microsoft has tied up with homegrown PC company, SynTECH. The current projections suggest that around 20,000 PCs would be required every month.
Speaking to mediapersons after the launch, Ravi Venkatesan, chairman, Microsoft India said that West Bengal was a state which clearly meant business. He also mentioned the visionary leadership of the state and said that it was one of the few states where infrastructure was actually improving.
The programmes were launched by chief minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in the presence of state IT minister, Manabendra Mukherjee, Ravi Venkatesan, chairman, Microsoft India and Siddhartha Das, director, public affairs & strategic initiatives, Intel India Development Centre.
The focus of both the programmes was to increase PC penetration and accelerate IT literacy in the state. It would also aid in the creation of an IT talent pool, catapulting the state into the next level of IT led growth.
However, despite the adulations for the state government, Venkatesan did not mince words while commenting on the CPI(M)'s decision to allow collective bargaining in the IT industry.When asked to comment, Venkatesan said, as long as there was productive dialogue between the management and the employees, there was no need for any third party.
He also said that IT had put India on the global map in terms of job creation and wealth creation and it was not clear how unionism would take it forward.
