Telugu Software launched

Hyderabad, Oct. 28: Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mr Dayanidhi Maran on Friday launched a free Telugu software tools and fonts CD and said such CDs would be ready in all Indian languages in 10 months time.

Mr Maran also announced the sanction of 40 lakhs new telephone connections to Andhra Pradesh; launch of 1 lakhs common service centres for citizens next year to ensure internet connectivity in rural areas at a cost of Rs 3300 crores; 25 crores new telephone lines by 2007; approval of State Wide Area Networks (SWANs) to be set up in the current year and government move to do away with differential rate of tariff for landline telephone users.

Speaking at a function here, he said the Central Government had released free software tools and fonts in Tamil, Hind and Telugu and soon similar software in Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Urdu, Kannada, Malayalam, Orissa and other languages would be out soon.

He complimented the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and also University of Hyderabad, Cyberscape Multimedia, IMRC, Cadgraf Digitals for having come together to share their tools and fonts for this national cause.

Chief Minister Dr Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy launched the Telugu language tools and fonts. Details about the free download of Telugu software tools and Fonts can be had on www.ildc.in/telugu/tindex.aspx or on phone numbers 23401331/2.

“People can now document in their own language. We will have software in rest of the Indian languages in 10 months time. We will also revive IT plan by this year-end,” Mr Maran said. “The Department of Information Technology is making all round efforts to make personal computers affordable for the common man and to increase internet and PC penetration in the country. Prices of computers have come down thanks to the initiative taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The technology should ultimately reach the common man,” he said. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy said developing software tools in Telugu was a commendable and significant step. Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Dasari Narayana Rao expressed anguish over some convent and corporate schools ignoring Telugu. He wanted it to be a compulsory subject at least in primary sections.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said: “I was really shocked when I learnt that a dictionary in Gondi language to Hindi and Telugu was prepared by a New Zealander, who is living in Mancherial in Adilabad district. We have accord high importance to IT.”

Maran moves

* Mr Dayanidhi Maran launched Telugu software tools and fonts. For details and free downloads log on to www.ildc.in/telugu/tindex.aspx or call up 23401331/2.

* Software in rest of the Indian languages will be out in about 10 months.

* 40 lakh new telephone connections to Andhra Pradesh sanctioned.

* One lakh common service centres will be launched for citizens next year to ensure internet connectivity in rural areas.

* 25 crore new telephone lines by 2007; landline rates in the cities likely to come down.

* IT plan could also be reviewed by the end of this year.

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle