Block chain a priority for Bengal in near future

Kolkata: Listing out the priority areas for the state government in Information Technology for the days to come, state Additional Chief Secretary, IT and Electronics, Debashis Sen said on Thursday that Bengal wants to create a National Block Chain Hub in Bengal.

He stated that Bengal has selected block chain as a technology for the future and it will be part of the government's strategy in the IT world in the short and medium term.

"Block Chain has deep linkages to FinTech, Data Sciences and Cyber security and all of these are related to each other at a deep level," Sen said, while addressing Infocom 2017.

A think tank decision in this regard was taken on Wednesday, which was attended by Infosys, IBM, TCS, KPMG, PwC, SREI, start-ups (Ahelo, IndusInd, Ranchi Mall), practitioners from Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata.

"Block chain can be used effectively for examining the authenticity of medicine as the technology is capable of analysing the ingredients in a medicine. It is changing the IT/ITeS scenario faster than Moore's Law. We want Bengal to take the lead in this technology, " he said.

Block chains provide secure public databases that are free from cyber attacks. The IT department plans to frame a clear-cut strategy on the basis of deliberations in this regard and accordingly prepare a roadmap.

On December 20, Nasscom and the government are joining hands on a discussion on block chain.

"Skills are not easy to come by in cyber security. So, specialised training in Israel is also being planned. Experts from Hyderabad are being brought here for training," Sen added, listing skill building in cyber security as another focus area for the state.

He pointed out that as block chain is closely linked with FinTech, the government has earmarked a 10 acre land at New Town –Rajarhat for a FinTech hub. "Start-ups are also being encouraged to come up and set shops at this hub," he maintained.

More than 15 countries and 1,500 delegates from five states are attending the three-day Infocom event that kicked off on Thursday.