"It is very necessary to develop the information network, otherwise it is going to result in a digital divide between the IT-knowing and non-IT-knowing," minister Chandrika Rai said in an interview with India Abroad News Service, promising to bring about significant growth in the sector in the next four years.

When it was pointed out Yadav, the chief of the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), had spoken openly against IT, Rai said he was not aware of what the Bihar strongman felt on the issue and reiterated that the state government would do everything in its power to ensure the sector's growth. "We cannot afford to be an IT-backward state," he said.

Yadav was quoted as saying in a television interview, "What is IT? I am against it. This does not suit our country, this is not America. This country does not lack population, we have one billion people. What good is science and technology other than rendering skilled people useless?"Rai, however, has submitted several proposals with the central government and has asked for financial help to take IT to every corner of Bihar. The thrust would be on ensuring that a large number of students learn about IT and the latest developments in the field, he said.

Rai said for improving connectivity, developing an optical fibre network in the state is necessary. Reliance Telecom has sent a proposal to the state government for laying a 3,700-km network in Bihar, he said. If the project - estimated to cost Rs 3 crore - materialised, every district would have its own IT centre, he said. "We have asked the central government to extend financial assistance because we do not have adequate resources of our own to promote information technology," Rai said. "If India has to become an IT superpower, the central government cannot ignore Bihar and, moreover, we are not asking for alms but only asking it to fulfil our justified requirements," he added.

Stating that the IT was likely to generate 2.2 million jobs by 2008, the minister said Bihar must get at least 10 per cent of those jobs. For that the state needs to modernise and properly equip its technological institutions and provide them with good teachers who could produce competitive professionals, he said. As the government has limited resources, it is also planning to encourage private enterprises to conduct IT classes, Rai said. "I have requested the central government to provide satellite technical education so that anyone interested may learn without any cost," he added. Rai said the state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for setting up a bio-technology unit in Patna.

"We have already initiated steps, but the public works department, which has the responsibility of constructing its building, is yet to start work on it," he said. Rai has also asked the central government to open an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Bihar. Besides, the Bihar government is planning to set up a software park in Patna to facilitate export by private entrepreneurs, he said, adding that financial assistance from the Centre has been sought for this project too. Government departments such as transport, power, the treasury, land record and registration were being computerised in order to improve their efficiency, Rai declared.

-- IANS