THE small northern state of Haryana, one of the most modern and progressive states in the country today, is also a major contributor to its IT (Information Technology) revolution. IT exports from the state have galloped from Rs. 400 crore in the year 1998-99 to more than Rs. 20,000 crores in the year 2008-09, largely lead by its IT capital Gurgaon, which has emerged like a meteor on the firmament.

As the state translates its IT Vision, to transform Haryana into an IT driven economy and provide all its citizens access to government and private services, and economic opportunities within the state, country and the world, at their doorstep, Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation (HARTRON), the nodal agency for promoting Electronics and IT Industry in the state, is playing a pivotal role in making that vision a reality.

Starting from small, but decisive, steps taken in the initial years, to quicker and bolder strides in recent times, HARTRON, during the nearly three decades of its existence, has become the fulcrum of change which has propelled Haryana into the league of frontline states leading the Indian ICT revolution.

In the last few years it has emerged as a total solutions provider by executing several e-Governance, data ware housing and IT turn-key projects, including wide area network, campus networks, application developer, computerization of electoral rolls and preparation of off line and on line elector's photo identity cards. It is also the nodal agency for procurement of hardware, project management and data warehousing, etc.

From playing a major role in preparing the state's IT policy, its e-Governance roadmap and implementing the State Wide Area Network (ADHAAR) under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of Department of Information Technology, Government of India, to a project to replace all paper based ration cards in the state with smart cards, e-empowering village women and SCs/STs, taking government services right up to the doorstep of citizens in the rural areas through the creation of a network of Common Service Centres (CSCs), HARTRON is leaving a positive impact on the lives of the common people across the length and breadth of the state.

The Corporation, which has attained international quality certification ISO 9001-2000 for providing quality services, is a pioneer in the preparation of elector's voter I-cards and voter's lists with photographs of the electors, a fact which has been commended by even the Election Commission of India. In fact HARTRON was the first organization in the country to undertake the voter ID cards project. The project involved the largest database application in India, wherein the details of electors were to be maintained along with their photographs.

Another first to HARTRON'S credit has been the training of some 7,000 scheduled caste students from all 67 government colleges in the state in basic computer skills and DTP under a project -- Empowerment of SC Students in Government Colleges in Haryana for Employability in Information Technology -- launched in conjunction with the State Higher Education Department

HARTRON offers its expertise both in infrastructural development as well as promotion of projects. Under the infrastructure development the Corporation has set up Assisted Sector Projects, Electronics City, EHTP (Electronic Hardware Technology Park) and setting up ITT (Information Technology and Telecom) Complexes to strengthen the electronics and IT industry in the State.