The State Government has decided to give further boost to the information technology sector by developing a major IT park near Devanahalli, close to the Bengaluru International Airport, with the support of the Union Government.
The State Cabinet, which met here on Thursday, approved an Information Technology Investment Region as suggested by the Union Government. The park, it is stated, will be a joint venture of the Union and the State Governments and the Centre will create the requisite infrastructure within the park and the State will provide the requisite land.
Briefing presspersons on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development S. Suresh Kumar said Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa would head a high-level committee to monitor the acquisition and allocation of land for the park. The Centre had conveyed to the State Government that at least 10,000 acres of land was required for the park and that it should be in the vicinity of the international airport. In all likelihood, the requisite land would be provided closer to Nandi Hills . The park (the companies therein) is expected to provide direct employment to nearly 12 lakh people.
In another important decision, the Cabinet approved starting science courses in 437 Government Arts Colleges in the State and towards this end approved the direct recruitment of 2,018 science teachers and 1,311 laboratory assistants apart from the establishment of science laboratories in these colleges.
The Cabinet also enhanced the pension paid to freedom fighters from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 a month and it will be given effect straightway. The Chief Minister while addressing the Independence Day parade last year had announced that the government would increase the pension. It had also been decided to pay all beneficiaries under various social security schemes through branches of nationalised banks and as a pilot project this scheme would be first tested in the districts of Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Dharwad.
Mr. Suresh Kumar said the other important decisions related to recruitment of 487 veterinary doctors, extending the term of the Jagannath Shetty commission of inquiry (Haveri firing ) and B.K. Somashekara commission (church blasts) to March 31 and that of the A.J. Sadashiva Commission (internal reservation among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) to December 31 apart from grant of an additional fund.
