PANJIM: Stating that its agenda is not against any decision makers of Government, the Goa Technology Association (GTA) said the State should not ignore the lone IT Association connected with all the ITs and start-up companies in Goa and expected complete support on the issues faced and raised multiple times.
The Association held its third Annual General Meeting (AGM) online calling “2019 as a wonderful year for GTA and thought to make 2020 grand.”
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GTA has nearly 70 companies as its members and it’s the biggest body for IT companies in Goa. It has not been easy for GTA or any IT or startup companies during this Covid-19 crisis period.
In a press release, GTA has clearly narrated that instead of spending money on designing of IT Park, at least 10 per cent of that money could help the companies to survive.
“GTA has not been invited yet to be part of drafting committee and also there has been buzz regarding revamping the startup policy, which we came to know from the media. While The IT policy is not fully implemented, many startups in the State are yet to be benefitted from the startup policy. We need to understand the need to revamp the policy. A lot of thought process has gone into drafting the current policy along with the then CM late Manohar Parrikar and we feel the same policy can be continued further,” the release stated.
It further added that, “We supported the IT Park in the past, however, considering the pandemic times and its economic effects, we feel the need of the hour is to speed up the disbursement to IT or startups instead of approving crores of money to design consultants for the project consultation of IT park. If even 10 per cent of that amount was to be disbursed to the existing IT or startup companies and to improve the infrastructure and last mile connectivity in the state, we would have been in a position to create so many jobs and add to the economy of the State. In another forum, it was discussed that there will be a new Telecom Policy. No concrete news or updates received on that so far.”
GTA President Mangirish Salelkar said that, “Our agenda is not against any decision makers of government. They should not ignore the only IT association connected with all the IT and startup companies in the State. We expect complete support on the issues faced and raised by us multiple times.”
It added that shifting to 100 per cent work from home (WFM) mode was a complete new phenomenon for all of us and it has been a nightmare to many of the companies.
“I know some companies, who had to deliver not just laptops but also desktops to their team members to WFM. Some of them are staying in villages across Goa are not at all having internet facilities. During pandemic, GTA donated a sum of Rs one lakh towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as well to help the Government in tackling COVID-19 issues,” Salelkar said.
“As a President of the Association I have been actively interacting with the members who have been hit and wanted guidance from me or the association to handle these difficulties. During the renewal process we thought of deferring the renewals by three months, as some are struggling with finances, and have chosen to take a backseat this year,” Salelkar added.
In April 2020, “We also conducted a survey during this time, which gave us a complete insight about many companies who have been affected. Some of these companies were expecting some help from the government for their business continuity. This survey was later presented to the Chief Minister and the IT Minister,” the release added.
GTA has been following up with IT Ministry regarding policy implementation and if not the IT companies but then at least a few startups from Goa have got some benefits.
