Adv. Dayanand G. Narvekar (Goa)

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Information Technology In GOA:

Ranked the Best Placed State by the Eleventh Finance Commission for its infrastructure.

Ranked on top for the best quality of life by National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators.

Placed in top three states in India for high rate of literacy and low rate of infant mortality.

Declared the Second fastest growing state by CRISIL.

Selected by India Today as 'State of the States' for excelling in education, health, infrastructure and investment scenario.

Why IT in GOA:

GOA is well placed to move towards being a knowledge society and a Knowledge economy.

The Government firmly believes that Information Technology is the let to the enhancing welfare of the citizens of GOA as IT can create employment opportunities for an increasing proportion of the population in variety of diverse sectors.

Goal of IT in GOA:

e-Infrastructure : The Government recognizes that the success of IT investments is dependent, to a large extent, on connectivity.

e-Governance : The Government intends to optimally leverage IT to restructure government-citizen interface with the objective of providing good governance.

e-Education : Availability of skilled manpower is a prerequisite for promotion of IT Sector.

Employment Generation : Government also focuses a lot on the employment generation for Goan youth.

IT Initiatives of Govt. of GOA:

Government also focuses a lot on the employment for Goan youth. Goan youth have an advantage of good English speaking skills which be required for ITES/BPO Companies.

To attract ITES/BPO Companies to start their business in GOA, Government has identified 3 locations for development as IT Parks.

Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat, Dona Paula developed in an area of around 95 acres, which is divided into plot size of 1,2,3 & 4 acres.

IT Park at Socorro Porvorim will be developed in an area of around 250 acres.

IT Retreat, Mandrem.

Cyber Age Scheme & Training:

The scheme was started during 2002-2003, under this scheme, Government is providing a free computer, printer and UPS at a nominal cost to all 11th standard student. This will not only help student but also makes their family e-literate.

Students will be trained in soft skills, accent and social skills to cater to the BPO industries. This will ensure that every graduate in computer savvy in the next 5 years. An incentive of Rs. 2000/- per every candidate placed is announced by us.

With 82.3% literacy rate and accent on IT education, GOA will soon emerge into a reliable source for competent Human Resources, which will add impetus to the state's progress.

Incentives for Investment in IT Sector:

IT Policy was announced in the official Gazette on 17^th November 2005.

GOA Industry Incentive Scheme: All incentives made available under the industrial Policy, 2003, to the prospective industries intending to invest in GOA, shall also be applicable to IT and ITES units registered with ITG.
Higher FAR for buildings housing IT/ITES units.

Facilitation of entry of major players: This will be provided to industrial houses among top twenty companies as per NASSCOM annual listing, that intend to open branches or campuses in GOA.

Hardware Industry: Hardware manufacturing in a priority sector for the Government. GOA is well suited for hardware manufacturing industry as if is endowed with a very good harbor facility.

Other Major Incentives:

Establishment of SEZ: Government shall declare IT Park as SEZ (Special Economic Zones) which would further enable conducive atmosphere for rapid growth of IT/ITES industry.

Business Incubation: The Government will assist incubation of technology-based start-ups for products and services giving GOA a strategic advantage.

Fairs and Retreats: The Govt. will commission, support and participate in the events organized by various Corporation and agencies of the Govt., and reputed organizations such as the NASSCOM, CII, GCCI, that promote the State's technology and income generation capacity as well as local employment and entrepreneurship.

Skill Databases: The Govt. will encourage and assist the university and other educational organizations to create an on-line alumni database. A citizen database will be developed through implementation of Smart Card project. These databases will serve the IT units in the State in their search for skilled manpower.

Incentive for employment to locals: Employment incentive to unit @Rs. 15,000/- per employee per annum Maximum amount of Rs. 75.00 lakhs per year in one unit (for a period of 2 years starting from the date of operation). Additional special incentive of 5% for commissioning of operations before December 2006.

Reimbursement of Stamp duty: All registered IT/ITES units that purchase or lease and/or building in the notified IT Park or industrial estates operated by the GIDC will be reimbursed the entire amount paid by the unit towards Stamp duty.

Higher FAR for buildings housing IT/ITES units: Building located in notified IT Parks will be permitted a FAR of 150.

Availability of quality power: The Govt. will ensure a reliable power supply to IT/ITES units located within notified IT Parks. Necessary investment will be made in the distribution network to ensure reliability and quality of power in the IT Park. IT/ITES units/companies shall be exempt from the purview of statutory power cuts.

Exemption from the application of specific Acts: Registered IT/ITES units, except those that are engaged in manufacture of hardware equipment, will be exempted from the application of GOA Pollution Control Act. The IT/ITES units shall be facilitated to operate 365 X 24 X 7.0

Incentives to promote research activities: The Government will provide grants and other benefits to units that wish to undertake activities relating to research in cutting edge technologies, particularly in advanced telecommunications area. The proposals for such grants to a maximum of Rs. 10 Lakh will be considered by the Government.

Outstanding contribution awards: Registered IT/ITES units that have completed 5 years of operation in the State will be considered for grant of one 'Outstanding Contribution Award' of Rs. 10 Lakh each year in each category on the basis of objective criteria published by the Government.

Reimbursement of certification charges: Government will reimburse actual charges or Rs. 5 lakhs, whichever is less for certification for ISS/ISO 9000, SEI-CMM level 5, e-SCM level 3.

Incentive to Training Institutions: Incentives of Rs. 2000 per candidate will be available to Training Centers/Institutes who have successfully trained the candidates in the communication/soft skills and thereby have been able to place them in reputed IT/ITES companies for employment.

IT industry to be notified as public utility/essential services: IT/ITES units/companies and IT hardware industry shall be notified as a public utility/essential Service under the relevant laws.

Allocation of Land: Government would establish IT Park at a suitable location and make the land available to IT players wanting to come to GOA at suitable rate guided by the final cost to the Government including development cost, if any, and market rate.

Major IT Initiatives:

GOA Broadband Project: This project will connect each and every Taluka with a high bandwidth of 10Gbps, and each and every Village with 1Gbps and connects each and every house with 10/100 Mbps depending on demand.

With this initiatives each and every house will get a connectivity with voice, video and data transfer facilities at an affordable and reasonable cost.

How Citizens get Benefited:

Minimum payment towards Telephone: Rs. 250 per month

Minimum Payment towards Broadband (256 Kbps): Rs. 250 per month.

Minimum Payment towards entertainment: Rs. 300 to Rs. 500

But with the Broadband Project, citizen will have to pay a nominal amount of Rs. 522/- per month with high Bandwidth including all the above facilities.

e-Governance Initiatives:

State is very keen to reach every citizen through its e-Governance initiatives. As a step towards this , we have started the Computerization of 10 Depts. is ready & the Application Software is loaded on the servers for testing and deployment.

Computerization of 18 more Departments is under process towards the objective of total e-Governance by March 2007.