Essays

(AVENUES AND OPPORTUNITIES)

"Recent advancement in Information Technology have trans-formed every facet of human life and revolutionised the world as never before witnessed in known human history."

The world of computers, telecommunication televisions, the internet and all other audio and visual media is facing rapid and radical changes presently. This has generated infinite and unimaginable new opportunities in education, communication, commerce, manufacturing, agriculture, health care, leisure and entertainment and more particularly the service sector.’ Information Technology' comprises computers, telecommunications, television, audio-visual media, development of software etc. Computer is the major segment of Information Technology which has permeated and grasped every sphere of existence of human society and become indispensable. The present day elegance, accuracy, sophistication, efficiency could have been made possible only with the invention of computers. Computer software arc gradually becoming a decisive force in making important decisions. It has become the basis of modem scientific and technological inventions and researches. The use of software has penetrated in every walk of ife, be it transportation, Medicare, telecommunication, defense, industrial processing, entertainment, office utilities, space research, environmental predictions and so on, with endless list.

The Information Technology could be classified into two major components i.e.(1) Hardware, (2) Software. Hardware means the physical parts, which can be touched and are used to run the software. Software are the programme, or say heart and soul of the hardware.

For the last two decades, there have been a tremendous ups and down in Industry. IT has played an important role in making the Indian economy run at a much faster pace. During 2001 -2002, when there was worldwide economic slump, yet the IT sector managed to show an impressive growth. Though during this period, IT education segment showed a down turn. This trend had fallout on the Indian IT educational training business. Though business volumes declined a lot, yet an awakening had been created among the youth that IT is must to go ahead in life. With IT becoming acceptable to all, it became apparent that people needed to know computers to excel in life.

Recent studies conducted by leading IT associations and business intelligence Concern, have shown that our country will require millions of IT professionals upto2005. A study conducted by NASSCOM also reveals that the demand of IT professionals during 2005 be much more than the expected availability. The emerging IT enabled service (ITES) segment has shown tremendous avenues of jobs for the IT professionals. A study conducted by NASSCOM (2002-2003) shows that the ITES sector will create job opportunities for over 1.1 million people by 2008. It is worthwhile to note that during the last20 years, the IT industry's present trend reflects more than 20 time increase in ITES-BP segment. In spite of USA's restrictions on outsourcing from Indian market, it is felt that with globalization, the opening of economic fronts and markets becoming more competitive, it will be non-profitable for the USA companies and business tycoons, if they restrict the outsourcing opportunities available from India. As such more and more job opportunities will be further generated in IT and ITES segment positively.

After the Sept.11th incident, the IT industry went through some difficulties, though Indian IT field didn't feel the adverse effect as much as other developed countries, some Indian youth went jobless albeit temporarily. The basic lesson that our country learnt in the post Sept. 11 era, is that "our software industry has to be made more robust and less fragile, if we like to make it the most significant contributor to our economy". Tremendous market potential that is available in our country in the area of tele-education, tele-medicine, entertainment, e-governance etc..needs to be given business, if the IT made to touch every one of the billion Indian people, the IT market would become phenomenally large and it would become absolutely robust.

Presently our IT industry has provided job to approximately 5 lac people and earning only $ 10 billion, which is less than one percent of the world market. At the same time a typical international software company with only 50000 employees, earns$ 20 million through its worldwide operations. Based on the current trend if we have to reach $ 80 billion, we will have to multiply our work force eight times. Today our IT industry is proud that 260 out of the fortune 500 companies are its clients, but with Indian software professionals earning for foreign companies, if they are given proper opportunities in our country itself, then the things might change that out of 500 fortune companies, more than 50% may be Indian MNCs.

Information Technology can contribute tremendously in the economic development, particularly the rural areas. It can become a prudent tool in integrating the nation, the remote localities that have so far been feeling a sense of neglect, will be feeling part of development. Cell phone is becoming more and more approachable for a common man, with computer education made compulsory from primary and middle level, we can hope and aspire that within next few years, India will become more integrated and more economically robust.

Vocabulary

1. advancement—forward motion, encouragement of the progress or growth or acceptance of something. 2. radical—basal, extremist, revolutionary. 3. infinite—countless, innumerous, multitudinous. 4. unimaginable—totally unlikely, impossible, inconceivable.5. Leisure—time available for case and relaxation, leisure time. 6. slump—depression, economic crisis, sink. 7. Globalization —glistering, gloatingly. 8. robust—full-bodied, physically strong. 9. fragile—easily broken or damaged or destroyed, delicate, flimsy.10. tremendously—extremely, enormously, staggeringly. 11. aspire—aim, shoot for.