1. Information Technology (IT) is the world's fastest growing economic activity. The IT industry has been found to be ideal for Kerala in terms of its potential to generate opportunities and employment with little pressure on land, environment and other resources. This is one of the most people-friendly and environment-friendly industries of modern times.

2. The Government understands the enormous potential of Information Technology not only as a tool for improving governance and creating more jobs, but more significantly, as a means to greatly enhance the standard of living of the people. Use of IT in enhancing the delivery of Government services leads to a very responsive and transparent administration facilitating the empowerment of the people and satisfying their right of information.

3. The Policy Statement addresses the following components.

1. Increased application of Information Technology in all walks of life.
2. Enhancing the IT industry base so as to make Kerala a very fertile location for ventures in Information Technology.
3. Creating a robust State Information Infrastructure.
4. Human Resource Development for Information Technology.

• PC penetration of 10 per 1000 of the population by the year 2001.
• All colleges to be hooked to internet by the year 2000 and all the schools by 2002.
• Internet kiosks in every Panchayat ward, and
• Modernisation and integration of Government functions using Information Technology.

5. Kerala is a fertile ground for the growth of the IT industry. Government realises the significance and potential of this sector in the economic development of the State and will facilitate the creation of a sound IT production base through conscious efforts and policy initiatives which will combine the following:

1. Creation of IT-specific infrastructure in different parts of the State.
2. Removal of hassles in the regulatory environment, making it pro-active and sensitive to the needs of the industry.
3. Incentives and concessions for IT ventures.
4. Special package for financing IT ventures.
5. Promoting Kerala as a location for IT investments.

6. The establishment of a sound State Information Infrastructure with a communication backbone, switches, nodes, access networks and data warehouses has been identified a high priority area. The existing infrastructure will be harnessed, developed and integrated to create an Information Infrastructure that can effectively handle the traffic for several years to come.
The mission targets for SII have been spelt out as follows:

1. Connectivity at 2 Mbps to any user in the three major cities of the State and at multiples of 64 Kbps in other parts of the State by the year 2000.
2. All District Head Quarters be provided with the connectivity of 622 MB capacity by 1999, all Taluk Head Quarters by 2000 and all Village Offices by 2002. Concurrently, one SII node in each Block by 2000 and in each Panchayat by 2002.
3. Strengthening data warehousing for promoting trade, commerce and tourism and for enhancing delivery of Government services, its transparency and empowerment of the people.

The proposals in this regard include establishment of an Institute of Information Technology, introducing Information Technology as a specialised branch of study, development of Centres of Excellence in Information Technology, creating a fund for up gradation of training/educational infrastructure and introduction of a system for accreditation.