The Minister of State for Communication and Information
Technology, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan has said that India should not
be looked at only as a consumer base, but the multinationals coming
to India should stress more on technology transfer and creating
manufacturing base with R&D facility in this country. The
Minister expressed these views during her meeting with Shri Sam
Pitroda, Chairman World Tel, who called on the Minister here today.
Shri Pitroda said that the telecom sector
in this country has made tremendous progress but the public sector
companies in India lack professionalism. He agreed with the views
of the Minister that R&D wing of the public sector undertaking
will have to put in more efforts to compete with the multinationals
entering into this field.
While discussing with the Minister, Shri
Sam Pitroda informed her about the new concept he is planning
to develop that is of ‘electronic money’, where the mobile
sim-cards can be used as credit cards and the various MTNL, BSNL
outlets can be used as hubs for the total financial activities.
He also stressed on more infrastructure development in the rural
areas to reduce the migration of population from rural to urban
area.
The Minister informed Shri Pitroda of the new
schemes launched by the present government like Gramin Sanchar
Sevak where postman moves in rural areas with a mobile phone making
available the mobile phone facility to the villagers. The launching
of WLL in various regions is another such facility benefiting
the rural areas.
Appreciating the views expressed by the Minister,
Shri Sam Pitroda said that he is confident that what he was able
to do in the last 20 years in India, the Minister with her dedication
and sincerity will be able to achieve in the next five years provided
she get the support from the employees of the corporations.
Thanking Shri Pitroda for his contribution
to the development of Telecom sector in India, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan
said that the people of this country are looking forward to his
continued interest and involvement for the growth and modernisation
of telecom and IT sector in India.
