State Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E) Minister on Friday launched Bengalathon 2018, inviting software-based solutions from students, technical professionals and common citizens, particularly for the day-to-day problems of common people.

The minister also announced that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lay the foundation stone for her dream Silicon Valley project in New Town on August 13.

“We are looking for app-based solutions in a number of areas that include financial advisory app for senior citizens and game-based app for sensitisation of common people so that they do not get fleeced by fraudsters who pose as bank representatives, know the bank details and siphon money from accounts. We are also looking for an app to have a toto on call,” said a senior official of the IT&E department.

The details for registration along with other details of Bengalathon has been made available in the website of the state IT department and a Facebook page titled Bengalathon has also been introduced.

“Bengalathon” is a technology based competition to recognise innovative ideas that would culminate into path-breaking viable solutions for any of the industry sectors or citizen services and at the same time, provide a platform for them to showcase the innovative skills/ideas of the state resources at the national and international arena. The best solutions will be awarded.

Talking about the Silicon Valley project, the minister said: “We will put up IT&E infrastructure here in such a way that the entire country will look towards this place for solutions in these areas.”

The IT&E department also organised a day-long knowledge based workshop on ‘Internet of Things’ (IOT) involving the academia and the industry to work out a strategy for the state on how to embrace this modern technology, at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre.