Intel to donate 10,000 PCs to state governments, train a million teachers

Mumbai: Chip giant Intel is expanding its educational and digital healthcare programmes in India and is awaiting government''s proposed semiconductor policy for opening an a dvanced testing and manufacturing facility in the country. The company plans to donate 10,000 fully functional PCs to state governments and teacher training institutions. And. as part of the programme, Intel will train one million teachers on the application of technology to improve classroom learning.

"By 2008, Intel plans to donate 10,000 full-function PCs to state governments and teacher training institutions, as well as train one million teachers on the application of technology to improve classroom learning," Intel chairman Craig Barrett said.

The PCs will have internet connectivity, education content supported by the government, and software applications support from Microsoft.

Intel, through its World Ahead Program, plans to extend access to PCs with high-speed Internet connections to millions of citizens and train one million teachers in India on the effective use of technology in the classroom. As a result, Intel expects to help more than 30 million students across India by 2008, he said.

Intel, meanwhile, said it is still open to the idea of setting up a unit in India and is awaiting the government's proposed semiconductor policy, which is expected to offer a host of incentives.

"For the last ten years, we have been asked this question on our India plans. It is still an open issue. We are eagerly awaiting the government''s incentive package (under the semiconductor policy) and we had extensive discussion with the government on this. We are awaiting the final set of rules and regulations and will respond quickly once we get the policy," Barrett said.

Barrett's remarks come close on the heels of the recent announcement by information technology minister Dayanidhi Maran that the IT department would soon seek cabinet's approval for a comprehensive policy for encouraging the semiconductor industry inclusive of incentives and special packages.