Karnataka approves new IT & Electronic hardware policy

Karnataka approves new IT & Electronic hardware policy

PTI via The HINDU

The Karnataka Government today approved the new IT and Electronic Hardware policies to further boost the growth of these sectors, which account for 20 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product.

The new IT Policy 2011 envisages promotion of the information technology industries and innovative parks in Tier II and III cities, Minister for Higher Education V S Acharya told reporters after a cabinet meeting that approved the development.

Karnataka, considered as the IT hub of the country, has achieved Rs 75,000 crore worth exports in software this year, Acharya said.

The government also approved the Karnataka Electronics Hardware Policy and earmarked Rs 25 crore as budgetary allocation for its implementation.

Acharya said the state plans to develop four Electronic Hardware parks in the clusters of Bangalore—Tumkur, Shimoga— Hassan, Hubli—Dharwad and Mysore—Nanjangud.

About 500 to 1,000 acres of land has been identified for the establishment of each of the parks, the minister said.

In a major policy decision, the cabinet decided to withdraw tax exemption granted to tertiary sector activities in the Export Oriented SEZ located in the city.

The tax concession will now be available only to units that are engaged in production of export oriented products, Acharya said.

Four day Dharwad Utsav starts this weekend

Four day Dharwad Utsav starts this weekend

TNN, Jan 18, 2011, 10.07pm IST

DHARWAD: The people of Dharwad district will have an opportunity to enjoy some enchanting and vibrant cultural performances as part of Dharwad Utsav- 2010-11 for four days from Saturday. However, this year's events will not feature artistes of national and international repute as preference is being given to local talents who have made a name in the field of music and art and are now residing elsewhere.

The programmes this time have been spread out to different venues in the district in a bid to reach out to the larger sections of the people including those in rural areas.

As many 201 cultural troupes including 2,457 artistes will enthral audiences on stages set up at different places of Hubli-Dharwad, Annigeri, Navalgund, Kalghatagi and Kundagol.

Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain said cultural performances will be held in 10 places in Dharwad, six places in Hubli and one each in other towns. This time, the newly-developed venues like Sadhanakeri, Nrupatunga Betta, Kittur Chennamma Park, Karnataka Kulapurohita Alur Venkatarao Bhavan, heritage sites like Chandramoulishwara temple in Unkal, Amrutheshwara temple in Annigeri, Dr D Veerendra Heggade Kalakshetra and Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) auditorium will play host to the performances.

Conducting cultural programmes at these places may also help promote tourism, Jain said.

Special Attractions:

Scores of cultural, literary and theatre shows include performances by reputed artistes including vocal concerts by Pandit Somanath Mardur, Balachandra Nakod, sitar by Rais Khan and Hafiz Khan, dance by Yogini Gandhi from Pune, light music by Gayatri Deshpande, Rasa Manjari by Ajay Warrier and troupe, Shahnai by Basavaraj Hediggond, tabla by Ravindra Yavagal and Kiran Yavagal and others.

Besides, there will be performances by visually challenged and specially abled children, magic show and bike rides by Kudroli Ganesh and folk performances. Movie shows in selected villages and laser show by the department of information will also be held as part of the event, he said.

Folk Games:

Along with sports events like wrestling and kabadi, the Utsav committee has also contemplated on including folk games at the event. Cart race, a popular folk game of the region, will be organized, he said.


Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa will inaugurate the Utsav on the sprawling Karnataka College grounds at 6 pm on January 22.

Rural sporting events like wrestling, bullock-cart race, etc, will be the additional attractions at the 2011 edition of Utsav.

The festival could not be held during 2009 and 2010 due to flash floods in north Karnataka. The total expenditure of the event stands at Rs 60 lakh, the 50% of which will be borne by the government. Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has contributed Rs 25 lakh while the rest will be generated through other sources.

Rs 50 cr sought to upgrade Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences(Dimhans)

Rs 50 cr sought to upgrade Dimhans

TNN, Jan 17, 2011, 09.24pm IST

DHARWAD: Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Dimhans) will be developed on lines of Bangalore-based Nimhans. A Rs 50-crore proposal to this effect has been sent to the government.

Dimhans director Dr Shivanand Doddamani and MP Pralhad Joshi told reporters here on Sunday that the development works include setting up of neurology and neurosurgery units and introducing new post-graduate courses, which would be taken up in three phases between 2011 and 2015.

New courses to be started here are MD and DPM in Psychiatry, MPhil in Clinical Psychology, and Psychiatric Social Work and diploma in Psychiatric Nursing. The government has issued a notification converting the 10 non-teaching posts into teaching posts for the purpose and the courses would start once the vacancies are filled. An independent de-addiction ward would start functioning once the process of appointments is completed.

Nimhans management has agreed to allow Dimhans staff to take part in training programmes and academic activities to enhance their skills. Likewise, they have also agreed to send their experts for rendering academic services at Dimhans. Steps have been taken to train medical, para-medical staff and others under National Mental Health Programme, they said.

About the ongoing works related to the construction of forensic ward, rehabilitation centre, mechanized laundry and modern kitchen are nearing completion and these units would be inaugurated in March. Tenders have been called for Rs 2.66 crore administrative block works.

Replying a query, Dr Doddamani said steps are being taken to curb illegal paying guest business, "allegedly" run by Dimhans staff for the students. Besides, enhancing the capacity of the existing hostels, steps have been initiated to construct a new one for the benefit of students.

Karnataka to promote smaller cities as tech hubs

Karnataka to promote smaller cities as tech hubs

IANS via ibnlive.com

Posted on Jan 18, 2011 at 06:05pm IST

Bangalore: Four electronic hardware parks and promotion of smaller cities as tech-hubs are proposed in Karnataka's new information technology and electronics hardware policy, state minister V.S. Acharya said on Tuesday.

The new policy will promote IT and related industries in smaller cities, the medical education minister said.The electronic hardware parks will come up in the regions of Bangalore-Tumkur and Mysore-Nanjangud in the south, Shimoga-Hassan in central part, and Hubli-Dharwad in the north, Acharya, who is also the cabinet spokesman, told reporters.

He added that the government will provide Rs 25 crore for the project in the 2011-12 state budget to be presented in February.

About 1,000 acres of land has been identified for setting up each of the parks, Acharya said.

Karnataka has exported software worth Rs 75,000 crore so far in current financial year that ends March 31.Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said in October that he hoped the export to touch Rs 90,000 crore by March.