PANJIM: Goa hopped onto the IT bus in 2005 with its IT Policy but hopped off the bus two years later when it de-notified the policy, dashing the hopes of IT stalwarts in the state. Eight years later, it is making a delayed hop back onto the bus, with the recently announced draft IT policy that has rekindled hope in the industry. But, wary and relying on past experience, many in the industry believe the policy can make an impact only if the government, the chief minister in particular, takes IT seriously.
“Following the last policy, many who invested in the state were left in the lurch and this is a problem because their trust in the system has reduced. Many fear the same may happen again. For this the chief minister himself should invite heads of companies, sit down with them and convince them to invest in the state,” said Gurudev Naik, an IT professional working in Bangalore.
The government has received several suggestions to the draft policy that was kept open till June 15 before its final notification. The wait now is for the final notification.
What the 2005 IT Policy lacked in terms of details, especially in respect to land allotment to companies, has been made up for in the 2015 edition. This attention to land is a must since it is here that companies invest the most.
Tirathprasad Nagvekar, a start up entrepreneur and electronics engineer said he feels the troubles of getting land, especially if it a start up like his company, Adec Technologies and Solutions Pvt Ltd, are enormous.
“As an entrepreneur you have to invest just as much money in a start up in comparison to a well set up company. It is anything but encouraging when a young start up has to pay Rs 100 crore to start a company. Why not start with Rs 25 lakh and subsequently increase it when the turnover rises?” suggested Nagvekar.
A review of banking policies and reforms also needs a makeover when compared to the old policy. “In many cases, entrepreneurs apply for loans from the bank and in most cases, banks refuse to grant the loan basically because they don’t understand the industry and their needs. In the past this was an issue and unless it is addressed, it will continue to remain a problem,” he said.
Some factors, including the cumbersome rules and regulations that the old policy had taken care of are another aspect that the industry hopes will feature in the new policy. Nitin Kunkoilenkar, vice president at SmartLink and VP of the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology, said, “The Goa IT Policy 2005 had given exemption from application of certain provisions of Acts such as the Goa Pollution Control Act, The Factories Act – 1948, The Maternity Benefits Act – 1961, The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act – 1970, The Payment of Wages Act – 1936, The Minimum Wages Act – 1948, etc. These benefits should be extended in this policy also.”
He also insisted that the education sector needs attention. In a letter to the Department of Information and Technology, he suggested the government do away with multiple educational departments and have a single regulator and create an integrated approach to reforming the sector entirely.
Syllabus should be harmonized and should focus on imparting skills to students as per the industry’s requirement, he said and added the need for finishing schools to get students ready for the industry.
Goa IT professionals (GITP) in their suggestion to the government that included giving local units help summed it up well saying, “Be in no haste to rush this critical task and do not let your and our dedicated efforts in the formulation of this policy end up in a political farce. Goans have waited for 20 years for IT and we can as well wait for another 2-3 months if you need that time to do a thorough job. The notification of a great Goa IT Policy and its successful implementation will be a watershed moment for Goa.”
