PANAJI
Goa Technology Association (GTA), led by its president Mangirish Salelkar, met Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, and urged him to fast-track work on start-up policy.
Interestingly, Revenue and Information-Technology (IT) Minister, Rohan Khaunte, has several times assured that start-up policy will get implemented, but the same has not been done so far. Last time, Khaunte had assured that the start-up policy would be launched in September.
Speaking to media after meeting Parrikar, Salelkar said, "We met the Chief Minister and requested him to fast-track the work on start-up policy. We felt the need of asking him because ultimately it is IT start-ups, which need a policy like this."
He continued, "Parrikar has assured us that he will notify the start-up policy in the next three days. The CM also assured that this policy will get implemented in the next 3-4 months."
He said, "One of our demands is to have hi-speed internet everywhere in Goa. The other is to bring in the concept of IT-Anywhere, which means people should be able to start IT companies from anywhere in Goa."
Interestingly, the concept of IT-Anywhere existed in the IT policy launched by the previous state government under the then Chief Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar.
Salelkar said, "The concept of IT-Anywhere was introduced but not implemented. That's the reason, IT companies are required to have trade license and etc. If we genuinely want IT-Anywhere in Goa, then people should be allowed to start IT companies from anywhere like a garage or a flat."
