The Chief Minister Mr N.Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the State government's endeavour is to see that the poor people are benefitted through IT and IT enabled services. Inaugurating the 'Advantage AP' IT Summit at the HICC on Thursday, he said that the State government has launched many initiatives using IT to benefit the common man. He referred to the NREGA, distribution of input subsidy and SHG movement where the beneficiaries are being provided with smart cards so as to ensure transparency in payments.

     There are 52 lakh farmers in the State who are being provided input subsidy amounting to Rs.1,816.91 Crores through online.  The Mee Seva programme launched last year has helped in providing various certificates to the beneficiaries.  The programme will be extended to all the districts in the State.  Steps are being taken to provide around 100 facilities to the citizens of the State by using Information Technology.

     The Chief Minister observed that any innovation is useless unless it is within the reach of the common man. He referred to the telecom revolution which was ushered in the country two decades back which has brought in complete transformation in the day to day life of the common man.  From the time when he had to wait for hours together for a trunk call, today even the far off distance call is at his fingertips that too at a very nominal rate. 

    The Chief Minister said that more than 50% of the youth are below the age of 25 years.  They have to be given correct direction, quality training, education and skill development for making them employable.

     The Chief Minister also interacted with the CEOs of top IT companies and invited them to invest in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh.  He said that Hyderabad has the best infrastructure facilities in the country.  He referred to the Outer Ring Road and the Metro Rail Project which is going to be operational in next three to four years.  To provide a sense of security to the people in Hyderabad, 3000 surveillance cameras are being set up in various parts of the city.  The power problem will also be sorted out, he added.

      Union Minister of state for Information Technology Sachin Pilot, Minister for IT Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Union IT Secretary J.Satyanarayana, representatives from various IT companies and other officials attended the summit.