The government will uphold the Right to Internet by ensuring a certain amount of free bandwidth for every citizen.
In his address to the Assembly on the opening day of the budget session, Governor P. Sathasivam promised to bridge the digital divide by providing Internet connection for all houses with electricity and promoting the delivery of more online services to eliminate corruption.
Mr. Sathasivam unveiled the government’s plan to set up 12 hardware parks in Kerala, including three mobile phone manufacturing parks. A Japanese and Korean industrial cluster would be set up in Kozhikode, with focus on hardware and robotics.
Infopark was geared up to meet the target of creating 1,00,000 IT jobs by 2020 and the second phase of Cyberpark in Kozhikode was scheduled to commence soon.
The Governor announced a project to link engineering colleges with the main IT hubs in the State through Tele Presence solutions. Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL) would be the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the project.
Construction of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kottayam (IIIT-K), would be completed by March 2018. The International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) would be equipped to take up research work in assistive technological development to help the disabled.
Wired connectivity would be provided to all schools in the State using the distribution network of KSEB.
Mr. Sathasivam announced a government proposal to introduce innovative schemes such as Innovation Fund, Technology Commercialisation Platform, Open Innovation Collaboration Space, Kerala Specific Angel Fund and promotion of 1,000 innovative ideas for the development of entrepreneurship in the State.
He said a professional talent search would be launched to revitalise Keltron.
