The new schemes can make a big difference in the sector if their efficacy is high
The Goa government’s department of information technology yesterday notified schemes announced under the 2018-initiated Goa IT Policy. For those in the sector—the many youths who have invested a quarter of their young lives in mastering this field and those hoping to have ‘clean’ industry in the state—this could be something to look forward to. But what really matters is how efficacious such official thinking really is and how much of a difference it can make to enterprise and industry.
The state has notified a sum total of 18 different schemes for various IT segments. Subsidies, schemes, rebates, and allowances can come as a godsend to those working hard to make it. At times, these can help bridge a crucial gap and convert an otherwise struggling sector into a viable one. But, officialdom also needs to go beyond the focus-on-subsidies-alone approach. What is also needed are inputs like infrastructure, transport, talent development, ease of doing business, industry collaboration, remote work opportunities, environmental sustainability, and community building. The difficulty faced by the sector in accessing bank credit, especially among small and medium players, is a chapter in itself. The causes, even in Goa with its rising bank deposits, are many, including perceptions that IT lacks “tangible assets”, and the inability of banks to understand the IT models of doing business.
In the IT schemes just notified, Goa is promising a lot—land/built-up area rebate, subsidies on lease rental, capital investment, registration and stamp duty, power, solar power, internet, interest, capital investment and salary, campus recruitment assistance, reimbursements of patent filing and quality certification, market support scheme, performance-linked grants, lease rental rebates, special incentive allowance, and even a certification programme for Goan IT professionals.
When the IT department’s Information Technology Policy was first announced in 2018, the government was also optimistic. It said it was “determined to make Goa a powerhouse of technology innovation and disruption”. One might be tempted to ask how much further Goa has come along this road in the past six years. Insiders say the IT sector is seeing new initiatives in the past two years, and the department is to be appreciated for coming up with 18 schemes for it.
No doubt, the government is under pressure to create job opportunities for local youth. A large number of Goan boys and girls are working in the IT sector in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and some other parts of the country.
The state has been talking about IT projects for more than two decades now. Goa was considered a region with high potential. Initiatives were taken by the government of the day, more than 15 years ago. However, the proposed IT parks in Socorro and Taleigao turned controversial amidst charges of nepotism and lack of transparency and ultimately had to be scrapped.
From promoting co-working spaces to connectivity, skill enhancement programmes to internship opportunities, promoting Brand Goa, and building the region as a space for global conferences, Goa can do a lot more. Internet connectivity has improved over the years. Digital nomad visas and building the support ecosystem can also help Goa. The latter could include encouraging cafes with WiFi, digital hubs, and support communities for remote workers. One positive initiative in recent years has been to take coding to schools, but that needs to be scaled up too. The new schemes should also be popularised.
