Kerala positioned itself in the IT map of the country with the establishment of Technopark Trivandrum the first IT Park in India. However the state could not sustain the momentum generated by the establishment of Technopark. But of late Kerala is doing everything it can to establish itself as a premium IT destination. It plans to do so by leveraging its inherent strengths &slew of measures which amongst others include nurturing entrepreneurship, development of IT parks &improving infrastructure.
Development of IT Parks
In order to facilitate the development of IT/ITES Special Economic Zones (SEZs), IT Townships and IT Parks in the state the government of Kerala has formed Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL). Unlike other states where development of IT is confined to a couple of cities Kerala plans to develop of the IT industry in in a manner that benefits all districts .It has conceived a hub and spoke model wherein Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode will act as hubs and the remaining districts will act as its spokes. At present KSITIL is involved in the development of about 10 IT/ITES industrial Parks/ township projects across the state.
Technolodges
The Government of Kerala has come up with the Technolodges scheme targeting those companies who are planning to shift their base to rural areas in order to reduce their operational costs. Under this scheme Technolodge centers will be set up in old unused buildings belonging to government organizations, panchayaths or other local bodies. KSITIL which is the main implementing agency for the project will provide necessary power back up, broadband facility and market these Technolodge centers to IT companies. Technolodges in Piravom, Kadakkal, & Perinad have started their operations.
Nurturing Entrepreneurship
With 1000acresof land for the development of IT parks, a single window clearance system, incubators like startup village , Technopark-TBI & a slew of other measures the government is going the extra mile to make Kerala the epicenter of IT in the country. The student entrepreneurship policy of government of Kerala gives 20% attendance and 4% Grace Marks to the selected candidates. The Kerala Self Entrepreneurship Development Mission gives an interest-free loan up to Rs 20 lakh to aspiring entrepreneurs which may go up to 50lakhs if all the members are qualified professionals.
Other Advantages
Kerala has many advantages over other states which makes it the natural abode IT companies. Some of them are
Comparatively lower operational costs.
The 157 Engineering & 186 Arts & Science colleges in the state make easy availability of talent.
Each of the IT parks in Kerala is connected by the National Highway and is less than an hour’s drive from the airports.
The employee attrition rate at 5% is the lowest in the country
The state is one of the only two locations in India where both the optic fiber submarine cables SEA-ME-WE-3 and SAFE converge, giving superb global connectivity at unbelievably low rates.
Highest tele-density and the highest penetration of optic fibre cable in the country.
God’s Own Country is slowly transforming itself as Techie’s Own Country.
