With great effort and on its fifth attempt, Goa has finally managed to launch and notify its Information Technology Investment Policy 2015-20, notwithstanding that the policy is 15 years late. But, the question arises on its full and speedy implementation and whether the IT community in Goa is satisfied with this nine-page IT Policy, which is more or less a cut and paste, pick and use from existing policies of other States which already exists.
Speaking to the Herald, the Director of the Department of Information Technology, Ameya Abhyankar said, “We have engaged nearly all related stakeholders even before the policy was drafted. We are now in close touch with Goa IT Professionals (GITP) and other IT leaders and having a series of meetings in coming days to help take this forward. I want to make it transparent for all stakeholders and I am confident that the policy will get operational by early March this year.”
He elaborated that meetings are being held with GITP and Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industry to guage the financial needs and in the budgetary provisions are required to take it forward. “I can say with conviction that Chief Minister of Goa is deeply interested in this issue and will take this forward at all levels for the benefit of Goans,” Mr Abhyankar told Herald.
When asked about the way forward post the launch of Policy the Director of DOIT, Mr Abhyankar had his task clear. “Our first priority is to get an (a) online IT directory and get everyone in fold. (b) Good data connectivity (c) Process with interaction with the government should be streamlined and (d) Hold road shows in all relevant colleges in India to make then aware that Goa is a workplace too,” said Mr Abhyankar.
However, the vice president of Manufacturer’s Association of Information Technology (MAIT), Nitin Kunkolienker was candid on the recently launched IT Policy. He said, “The Goa government should have created a seperate chapters for Electronic System Designing and Manufacturing (ESDMs), Software Development, IT Start-ups/Creative IT and IT enabled services with specific directions in each of these sectors. Also, there should have been specific incentives as per requirement in specific areas along with a common one for all sectors.”
Mr Kunkolienker added that “sufficient base of ESDM has been created in the state. Companies like Smartlink, TCS, Deabolt, IFB, Siemens, Rosen Berger, HFCL, Birla Cables etc are giant players in Goa but they have not been invited to a single meeting or there has not been an effort to bring them together. No one has bothered to see the issues related to ESDM.”
Milind Prabhu, CEO of genorainfotech says that, “I welcome the governments move to setting up the IT policy in Goa. The tech graduates in Goa will now have the office space along with seed capital from the government. This will spurt the growth in technological innovations happening from the state. Engineers can now think of commercializing their ideas and build a business around it. This will spurt innovations to emerge from young minds. If we can have some bright minds making best use of this policy and facilities and emerge as unicorns, we will get chance to be a part of a glorious history. It’s a great start by the government.”
Mr Prabhu adds that to the mid-sized companies there should have been higher incentives or capital for growth. Companies with more than five years of experience have developed immense potential to grow and will need support to sustain for a little more time before they get into the growth bubble. In IT its about understanding the secrets of outsourcing and this takes time. No doubt, incentives on GST, certifications and land lease amount is beneficial to all mid-sized companies but the policy could be improved to add more benefits to such companies.
Vice President of GITP, Vincent Toscano said, “Recent appointment of a highly competent Ameya Abhayankar, as the Director of IT should help the government produce these results, provided he is enabled and empowered to get the right things done on a war footing now.”
CEO and Co-Founder of Umang Software Technologies, Mangirish Salelkar told Herald, “Incentives on quality certifications is an excellent benefit. To have a reputation and build your company brand or the ecosystem, ISO or CMMI affiliations will be of value and special incentives for promoting local employment will encourage start-ups to employ more and more Goans.”
