PANJIM: The Computer Dealers Forum of Goa has alleged government apathy towards entrepreneurs like them as there is no action against flourishing of online stores which have rendered nearly 2,000 computer hardware professionals jobless.
According to the association, online stores are flouting all norms of taxation and pushing cheap imports, and consumers prefer to buy these products including laptops, mobiles and other electronic goods. They also said that instead of computers the government should provide students with electric two-wheelers.
“There is no entry tax imposed on these goods unlike in States such as Karnataka. The (Goa) government has been caught napping and by not imposing commercial tax it is thus losing precious revenue. This has in turn made Goan goods costlier,” association member Mandar Manjrekar alleged. He further argued, “It makes law abiding honest businessmen like us look like ‘jokers’ by turning their well established enterprises into free demo centres for these online stores.”
The association also slammed the government’s cyberage scheme saying although it is necessary, computers are not indispensable and with free laptops to higher secondary students, it has left them with only choice to close down their enterprises.
“Some of us have experience of over 20 years in this field and are today unfit from the point of view of HR of any corporate for re-training and employment. This has rendered 350 entrepreneurs and their staff of 1500, jobless in their own State due to government’s apathy and continued policy of free distribution of laptops and tablets to suit a privileged few who have been supplying these products since 2002 and also grease the pockets of officials and politicians concerned,” Manjrekar added.
The association members including Naren Ramchandani, Sudheer Prabhu among others also highlighted that while Class XII students are about to finish their Board exams, they have still not received laptops under the government’s scheme.
“Instead of computers/laptops, why can’t the government provide students electric two-wheelers.”
