Software Industry Development
Dewang Mehta played an important role in lobbying the Government on behalf of the fledgling Indian software industry. Mehta’s knowledge of the correct people to lobby, his cooperative stance with IT-related departments such as the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, the VSNL and more recently, the Ministry of Information Technology, enabled him to gain concessions while other industries struggled.
Recognizing the potential of the software and services segment as a major foreign exchange earner, Mehta launched the India Inc. crusade, where he personally presented the country’s software industry to the world. Today, the software sector has set before itself an enormous ambition of $50 billion worth of software exports by 2008.
Mehta played the role of the guru, to central and state governments, guiding them along the path towards IT-fication. He helped at least 19 state Governments draft their IT policies, and create the requisite infrastructure to aid the cause of software within their realms.
Besides a dream for the software industry, Mehta had a blueprint for the IT industry and how it could be used effectively to change the lives of India’s teeming millions. He wanted the benefits of IT to make its way down to the grass root levels and his favorite slogan, “roti, kapada, makan, bijli and bandwidth” epitomized the needs of the emerging, 21st century Indian.
Mehta died due to heart attack on 12 April 2001 in a Sydney hotel.
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mehta, Dewang |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | |
| Date of birth | August 10, 1962 |
| Place of birth | |
| Date of death | 2001 |
| Place of death | Sydney |
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