IT Industry told to connect 800 million non-English speaking pool of population with their products and services

Hyderabad, December 1, 2016: Addressing the 500 plus gathering of IT professionals on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebrations of HYSEA—Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association, Dr.F.C.Kohli who is regarded as the doyen of IT Industry and Father of Software Industry in India said, In the 2014/15 financial year, the IT industry in India generated an annual revenue of around 150 billion U.S. dollars. Of this income in 2015, the majority, 110 billion U.S. dollars, was generated in exports, domestic revenue totaled around 20 billion U.S. dollars. But, Hardware remained at 15 to 20 billion US dollars. How come Hardware is only 15 to 20 billion US dollars? China is at 150 billion US dollars, ten times to that of India. China doesn't export software, Dr. F.C. Kohli told.

Speaking further he stated that the reason for this was the government of the day in the 1970s. They didn't see a need for computers.

Usage of computers is limited to those who read and write English. What about 800 million Indians, who can't read and write English, Kohli asked the IT professionals? They too need computers. We have not looked at them as business potential. The problem to connect them could be that there are so many languages spoken in India. But, 21 languages expect Tamil emerge or have roots in Sanskrit. It is doable he said. Think of 800 million, who can use computers, he told them.

Somebody suggested me that why can't they be taught English so that it would solve the problem. But the fact remains that to make them English literates, it will take 50 years, Dr. Kohli said.

Dr. Kohli spoke about 100 million adult illiterate populations in India. What can we do for them? How can we make them literate? Can we make them conversant in English with just as fewer words as 600? So that they can read newspapers, use language and computers to their advantage, Dr. Kohli told the gathering. Just with 30 hours course run over ten weeks, we can achieve results, he said. He told his audience to contribute more to the country. If country goes forward, we also go forward, he added.

Speaking immediately after Kohli, K.T. Rama Rao, Minister for IT said, if we have half the energy at his age(Kohli is 93 old), I am sure it would be a great accomplishment, he said. And added that speaking immediately after the legend like Kohli was an adventure. K.T. Rama Rao appealed to all IT professionals present to do something for the non-English speaking pool of population in the country. He also told them to do more in vernacular language

We have not had any IT companies of billion dollars turnover in the year 2003, but today we have about 8 of them, said KT Rama Rao. Speaking about next wave technologies, going digital will throw floodgates open for security related products and services. HYSEA must focus on these new vectors. TS Government will focus on rural technologies. IT must move away from metropolitan cities to rural areas. So that in future, HYSEA—Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association will have to become TSSEA—Telangana State Software Enterprises Association said, KT Rama Rao.

KT Rama Rao unveiled Silver Jubilee Sculpture to mark the occasion. The Sculpture would be handed over later to TSIIC to preserve it at a permanent location.

HYSEA unveiled two signature initiatives to mark the Silver Jubilee Celebrations informed Executive Committee Member of HYSEA, Bharani K. Aroll. These include IT Museum, probably first of its kind and Disruptive Digital Initiative.

Giving details of IT Museum may be a first of its kind in India at least, he said it would preserve and showcase the past, present and future of the IT industry in Telangana, history, milestones, works and achievements. It is a collaborate initiative with ITE &C Department of the government of Telangana. Besides preserving computing history, it will display working models of many IT products and will be a virtual campus. It will have a Digital Art Gallery as well. The museum will elevate brand Hyderabad, Bharani told.

Giving details about another signature event, Bharani said, by 2020, fifty percent of jobs will be obsolete. Digital Disruptive Initiative for Telangana will be a digital literacy program at schools aligning with Government of Telangana. It will be a complimentary effort to TS Class Initiative. It will create, nurture a culture of innovation, startups, products and digital solutions. The initiative will benefit in Digital Revolution in Telangana, employability, culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. He said.

HYSEA has been the backbone of the growth of IT growth in the State. HYSEA has played a pivotal role in fuelling IT. It is a unique regional association. There is no active local association as effective as HYSEA is. It was born in an incubation center in Mythrivanam with just 15 entrepreneurs informed Ranga Pothula, President of HYSEA.

The IT industry of Hyderabad started long after the journey of the city began, but has been quick to propel the state to leadership position – it is home to over 1200 IT companies, both large and small, which together employ close to 4.5 Lakhs professionals, capable of delivering cutting and leading edge technologies, besides supporting an indirect employment to over 12 Lakh plus people. In 2014-15, the total value of software and IT products exports accounted for INR 68,232 Crore, and it accounts for about 11% of National IT exports Ranga informed.

Hyderabad has come a long way from known as the City of Pearls in the 1990s to being the City of IT Explosion of today. Consider this: From a modest 40,000 square feet Software Technology Park (STP) in one building, the sector now boasts of 1,000 acres of land. The city plays home to most multinational IT giants and houses one of the biggest IT startup hubs in the country (T-Hub in IIIT, Hyderabad) Ranga added.

To mark the Silver Jubilee Celebrations we have brought out Coffee Table Book--"Making IT Happen" showcases the city as it was and how it evolved through decades with industrialization and then Informational Technology coming in to take a formidable place he informed.

The Coffee Table Book was later unveiled by K.T. Rama Rao, Minister of IT, Govt of Telangana.

Speaking on occasion, Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary IT, Govt of Telangana said, he moved into city in 1992 from Lucknow. Both cities were the same then. There was hardly any difference. But, see today, where is Lucknow and where is Hyderabad. Hyderabad is transformed because of IT. It has changed the face of the city. But for IT, Hyderabad would have remained as Lucknow, Jayesh Ranjan said.

Adding further he stated that the Office space for IT industry doubles this year which is a 25-year record. Since January this year, Hyderabad has seen an unprecedented absorption of 6 million square foot of office space by the IT industry. It shows how vibrant the industry is; he told the gathering. HYSEA has proved time and again that how best collaborative efforts of Government and Industrial Bodies produce results.

A panel discussion moderated by BVR Mohan Reddy was held on the future of the IT Industry. The panelists were Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India, Vice President, Boeing International; C.P. Gurnani, CEO, Tech Mahindra; G.V. Prasad, CEO, Dr. Reddy's Labs and Surya Panditi, GM, India Technology Centre, CA Technologies

Founded small in 1991 by 15 entrepreneurs, HYSEA has grown so much, today it has 300 members representing the software industry in Hyderabad. Nobody can deny its role in achieving Rs 68,000crore IT exports from the state.

The Association represents the interests of the IT, ITES and Software Products Industry, both Domestic & Export Oriented units in the state of Hyderabad, including Tier II cities. HYSEA's role over the year expanded to playing a pivotal role in helping the government formulate appropriate policies and extending help in the creation of simpler and more efficient procedures needed for the growth of the industry.

The celebrations began last year in the month of November and continued for one year. During this year, HYSEA organized various special events, not only to celebrate the momentous occasion but also showcased the strength and expertise of the IT/ITES Industry".