SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
VIKANT SAHAY
HERALD: How is the overall ecosystem for IT companies in Goa?
GURUDEV NAIK: As of now, Goa does not have the required ecosystem and for IT companies to grow and function. Essentially, every IT company finds itself struggling just to survive in Goa. Those that appear to grow have branches outside Goa or have shifted their operations out of Goa. We have already written a communiqué to the government with a slew of measures for creating a healthy environment in the State to boost existing businesses, attract businesses from across the globe and also give confidence to local youth to turn to entrepreneurship. These measures if implemented in letter and spirit will help boost EoDB ranking and also help further Goa government’s vision of Swayampurna Gaon, Sampanna Goem. We urge the government to implement these measures, with a stern hand if the need be, to help entrepreneurs and businesses operate effectively in Goa and in turn help the economic revival of the State post COVID-19 crisis.
HERALD: What immediate measures need to be taken?
GN: First, eliminate the practice of obtaining approvals from ministers and chairpersons for investment proposals. It has been proved time and again that this centralisation of the otherwise decentralised file movement process is a major bottleneck. Despite having the highest per capita number of government employees, if Goa shows such a dismal performance, it is clear that we need to fix the bottlenecks in the processes being followed. At the same time the hassle-free Single Window System and not another window added to the umpteen windows should be put in place as soon as possible. The system should have 100 per cent online interaction. All instructions regarding expectations of the government in terms of certificates, permissions, NoCs, plans, licenses etc should be described on the website so that there is minimal back and forth interaction between government and the applicant.
Also, all approvals have to be time-bound and the system should provide a deemed approval if it is not acted upon within the allocated time frame. This should also result in a financial penalty on the concerned officer for dereliction of duty. It was promised during Vibrant Goa to provide approvals within 30 days. Almost a year later, this concept does not seem to have moved beyond paper.
HERALD: Does the Goa government require consultants to guide them?
GN: Ernst & Young who has been taken on board by the Goa Government can also be asked to suggest a policy framework to attract industries that are planning to move out or expand from other states and countries especially from China.
HERALD: Connectivity is a major issue with Goa. What do you feel on this issue?
GN: Connectivity and essentially the last mile connectivity is definitely a big issue. Government and policies should thus focus to enable last-mile connectivity. While bringing in connectivity and not having a supporting policy to ensure last-mile connectivity is not going to help.
The connectivity scenario in Goa needs to be improved on priority. Full potential of both GBBN and BSNL needs to be leveraged through strict government intervention and regulation over quality of service and price. Private players also need to be strictly regulated, not with the intention of making things difficult for them, but to ensure that they ensure the best price performance ratio. All Internet service providers in the State should be made to cater to sparsely populated areas if they wish to continue their business in thickly populated areas. While permitting setting up of mobile towers as per the new announced telecom policy too, locals should be taken into confidence. Places which will have least negative impact and in turn least resistance need to be selected in consultation with local residents. Huge benefits can be accrued if just this one factor is taken care of, IT Anywhere and Concept like Swaympurna Gaon, Sampanna Goem floated by the state government will have some hope for turning into reality if and only if fundamental needs like connectivity are met with effectively.
HERALD: What is the connect between industry and academics?
GN: Industry looks for productivity from the hired candidates. The quality of graduates and their industry-readiness needs to be improved by setting up an industry-academics partnership so that the years of graduation are utilised most optimally and students are made aware of industrial best practices. This will eventually reduce the costs borne by industry in training the new hires.
HERALD: Goa requires a robust e-governance system. What are your views on this?
GN: The time is ripe for using and fine tuning e-governance systems. Robust e-Governance systems will enable government employees to work from anywhere, streamlining the governance processes and ensure that hurdles are minimised in meeting permission deadlines. This needs investment in infrastructure for setting up an integrated system. Benefits of e-governance are well known. We are sure the local IT community will readily help in this effort for evaluating the technical options.
HERALD: What measures do you think need to be taken to overcome the COVID-19 impact?
GN: If we are to grow and lift the economy of the State from the pandemic induced low it is currently going through there is only one way out. All stakeholders will have to shed their self, community, party etc centric approach and work towards improving the messed up ecosystem of the State. Government needs to understand the urgency of the situation and get going before it is really too late. Goa needs to be on top of EoDB rankings considering its small size and the resulting ease of manageability. Goa also has a number of professionals who want to see their State prosper. GITP, for example, has members who have designed and developed such systems for international organizations. Instead of spending hundreds of crores on, it would be worthwhile to involve the State's educated manpower in building the system. We will be closely monitoring the steps being taken by the government using tools such as RTI and will also be reporting to the Central government based on the progress we see.
