Microsoft undertakes special education programmes

Microsoft India, a wholly owned subsidiary of the global IT giant, was not bullish about the \'immediate possibility\' of any large foreign investment in IT sector and held the country\'s stiff regulations and inconducive atmosphere responsible for new industries as the prime reasons. This view was expressed by Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik while talking to newsmen on the sidelines of the four-day \'Infocom 2011-Conference and Exhibition\', which began here today. According to Mr Pramanik, India despite achieving stupendous overall economic growth of over eight per cent for the past few years,had failed to motivate leading multi-nationals in IT sector abroad to come and invest in the country in a big way. Squarely blaming the alleged bureaucratic red-tapism coupled with stiff resulations at various level for the present impasse, the Microsoft India Chief felt that unless such obstacles were largely removed, big multinational companies, particularly those in IT sector, were not likely to have a re-look at the country for investment. But at the same he stated that he was hopeful that the situation would soon improve for the better. Referring to some of the major inititiates taken by Microsoft to speread the benefits of IT education even to the remotest corners of India, Mr Pramanik said a number of such programmes like \'Project Siksha\' and \'Project Jyoti\' had been launched in 14 states with tremendous success in terms of populsarising IT education among all sections of the society. Asked about his plan for West Bengal, which in spite of making progress in several other fields lagged behind most of the other states in terms of computer education for masses, Mr Pramanik said in order to reverse the trend Microsoft had launched similar and osome other IT enabled programmes in five selected districts of the state as Pilot projects. On the basis of the success of such intitiates, the benefits of these programmes would be spread to other districts soon, he said adding all intitial costs for launching the project was borne by the IT major. Earlier inaugurating the four day programme, being participated by the captains of all major IT companies in India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged more companies to come and invest in the state taking advatage of a \'very condusive and industry-friendly atmosphere\'.  The state governmet is ready to extend all help to you for setting up new units anywhere you like, \'\' she said and promised to provide all infrastructural and other assistance to them at the shortest possible time. (UNI)