Information Technology is growing at a rapid speed in the state with government taking various steps for its promotion and development, minister of information and technology Bimal Shah declared on the floor of the House.

Replying to the question of MLA Kulji Goti, the minister informed that at present there are 2 lakh Internet users in the state, 500 cyber cafés, 30 ISPs, and many Internet companies also have come forward to begin their operations.

Just before a couple of years these figures were dismal, he added.He also said that the policy framed in 1998 has contributed a lot to the development of IT sector in the state. The ministry has appointed Gujarat Informatics Limited as nodal agency for development of IT sector, and has created an office of commissioner of information technology in the state, he added.

However, the leader of Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary criticised the development in IT by saying that it does not cater to the needs of the vast rural population. At this, state industries minister, Suresh Mehta asked the Congress to clarify its stand on the IT as to whether congress was against the development of IT sector in the state. However, the congress refrained to clarify its stand on the issue.

Answering a supplementary question put forward by Jashu Barad regarding the reservation of seats for students of Gujarat in Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Technology, Mr. Shah said that they couldn’t demand reservation in the international class institute.