It’s over and done with, the polling that is. But the task of rebuilding Goa must begin right here and right now. Through this month, as we wait for our judgment to be pronounced on March 11, Herald has embarked on a programme of conversations and dialogues with key stake holders of different focus areas, to initiate a thought exercise for the incoming MLAs and the government. This should be seen as a preparatory exercise for the new government. Such planning is vital, since there will really be no time after results are declared. This is the second article
VIKANT SAHAY
PANJIM: The Information Technology and Investment Policy was launched on December 31, 2015. Following this, the aspiration was that Goa will soon become an IT destination apart from being a natural tourist State. Talks did reverberate in the galleries of power and in the incubation centers and among recent college graduates that Amazon, Google, MoUs with Telangana will lead to entry of more white collar jobs in Goa. It could not take off as the period to work on it remained very tight due to the elections. It is now time for a new government, whosoever comes to power, to look into the demands raised by the IT and start-up community in Goa.
“The highest priority for the next government must be to create ethical, high-income employment in Goa based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) which has been glaringly lacking for decades despite the consistently high literacy and education levels of Goans,” said Vincent Toscano, Vice President of Goa IT Professionals (GITP).
Innumerable options are available today to gainfully employ and financially enable the entire spectrum of Goan society from the most educated to the illiterate and from the most creative to the technical nerds across all industrial segments where ICT is relevant.
“While other Indian states have galloped ahead on the IT/ITeS super-highway our last Goa government slumbered through its 5-year-term producing nothing more than paperware and gimmicks in this regard. The new government must realise that Goans need high-income modern employment here in Goa much more than the artificially inflated mega infrastructure projects which have been peddled as development for far too long,” added Toscano.
Toscano added, “Even GITP IT Manifesto for 2017 explains possibilities around this industry in Goa and if they can implement even 50 percent of those in the next five years then Goa’s appalling employment scenario could be drastically improved.
Mangirish Salelkar, CEO and Co-Founder of Umang Software Technologies says, “This government in Goa gave IT industry some hope by releasing the IT Policy, but what next? Government has to understand that the country or state cannot grow with industries and export-oriented companies. IT Industry in India has proved that it is a well sustainable industry. Encourage existing and start-up companies.”
The new government, needs to ensure commitment to IT industry in Goa. If IT industry finds place in the government’s vision document, there has to be a clear plan of action with timelines. Rather than targeting to get new companies to setup their operations in the state, government should engage with the existing companies in the State and facilitate them to expand their business in Goa itself and generate new job opportunities for local talent.
Director of Androcid, Prajyot Mainkar is still waiting to know what benefits were offered by the last government. “Government should be working on materializing the incentive flow now to the IT companies registered under the new IT policy. It’s been over a year now since the new IT policy was introduced and the benefits have not yet flown. For any startup, these benefits are crucial. Secondly, the new government should also have a conclave with IT industry to know what each startup and their success stories. Besides tourism, Goa has lately been recognised for its IT as well. Lot of local projects from the government can be given to Goan companies itself. Not only financially, but it would be great for long-term support too considering these startups are from Goa itself.”
