The newly appointed chairman of the Goa Management Association, D Kumar Pillai spoke to Ajit John about his plans for the next couple of years and how the organisation can help the state government improve governance.
HERALD: What are your plans as the chairman of the Goa Management Association?
KUMAR PILLAI: As the newly appointed chairman my tenure will be for a period of two years. The GMA is affiliated to the All India Management Association and this Goa chapter was established in 1975. Today we have 212 members and we have come a long way from the time when the late Vasudeo Dempo lead the way along with Ashok Chowgule. It was set up by entrepreneurs in the state to discuss management and the latest trends.
Today it is a body that attracts professionals from various sectors who are involved in different functions. Last year we organised the knowledge series lectures and we had invited senior business personnel to speak to young students. Last year it was D ShivKumar, chairman and MD Pepsi India who was one of the speakers. We also had Rajeev Bajaj, Punit Dalmia, Ritu Beri and yes the dabawallas of Mumbai. They spoke to around 800 youngsters in NIO.
I intend to have a Goa Management Convention sometime this year possibly when the exams are all over. We will have people from Western India also coming to be part of it. In addition I would like to have more editions of the knowledge series lectures.
HERALD: What are you doing to improve the quality of managers in the private sector?
KP: We have several projects. We recently had a workshop for small scale entrepreneurs. Over two days they learned about finance management, marketing, HR and other fields. It is important that these small businessmen and women learn what is going on in the world. It will only help them.
HERALD: What about your collaborations with the government, are you planning to offer to train govt staff?
KP: Well, not much has really happened but during my tenure I want to look at this very seriously. We have very good personnel available with us and we can offer their expertise to the govt. I have CEO’s, COO’s, HR Heads as members who could help out. For example if the govt wishes to set up a management institute we can offer to do the feasibility study. During my trips around the country I met with chapters in Mumbai, Delhi and other places and they all share an excellent equation with the govt. We need to have that here too. In an organisation like the EDC we can help improve the competency of the staff in that department since it could help improve productivity. We can create modules which can be of great help to the employees.
HERALD: What is your assessment of the state investment policy?
KP: Well it is very good and I hope what has been written in that document comes true. The CM has the drive to do it but the problem is that the bureaucracy has to also be of help and that is where the question mark lies. We shall see how it all goes.
