WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, in an interview with the Goa Technology Association (GTA) announced on Monday evening that the policy benefits will be approved to all certified companies in August this year.
He further went on to say why only 14 companies have registered with DoIT and felt the need to review the policy so that more companies could take the benefits.
Industry feels that while the IT policy of Goa is very good, there is a huge gap in how it is designed and coded on the website for companies to apply for certification and benefits.
“While this is the key reason for delay, hopefully this change would be sanctioned and the process simplified. Chief Minister also informed that the pending disbursements for start-ups will also approved by next month,” said the GTA spokesperson.
On the question of outsourcing work to local IT companies and start-ups, Chief Minister has asked the interested companies to get empanelled with IT Department of Goa and they would definitely be considered for outsourcing Govt projects.
“Work will be given to the empanel companies along with Goa Electronics Limited (GEL),” said the Chief Minister in the interview.
The Chief Minister also informed that the Goa government is in talks with the Union Government to get the Bharat Broadband network project implemented in Goa which will help cover rural areas and solve the connectivity issue. While the industry in general is not happy about the internet and power connectivity in Goa, the recent cyclone made things worse wherein the companies and professionals were disconnected up to a week’s time.
However, Chief Minister believed that the cyclone was a one off event and it is not always possible to plan for such unplanned disruption of that scale in the current situation. However the power was restored within couple of days. Regarding internet connectivity, Chief Minister said that the Bharat Broadband Network project will solve the connectivity issue. The Chief Minister also wanted the private players to also take accountability for ensuring uninterrupted connectivity. Plans for underground cabling remained unanswered.
“Ease of Doing Business is another buzz word and the state has spent huge amount of money on the consultants over the years. It was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that GTA has worked with the DoIT, understood the process, challenges and have offered practical and acceptable solutions which by implementing under the direction of Director IT, we could simplify the registration process for the IT companies,” said the GTA official.
Chief Minister has asked GTA to work closely with Director IT and Director ITG to solve any such challenges. During the interview Chief Minister also announced an IT conclave will be held in August or September this year in association with GTA.
“Solving the internet infrastructure problem should clearly be the top priority for the state. If the Government succeeds to roll out IT Policy benefits at least this time, we will not only have more companies coming forward to register with DoIT but also many other IT, ITES companies could consider moving their operations to Goa,” said the newly appointed President of GTA Milind Anvekar.
