More focussed IT approach for wealth and employment needed: Nitin

Panaji, Mar 19 (UNI) The tourist destination Goa is now all poised to become a potential hub for Information Technology (IT) and IT Enabled Services (ITES) if the state government enforced its ''progressive'' policy in letter and spirit involving all stake holders.

Lauding the state government for evolving its new industry-friendly IT policy, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) president Nitin Kunkoleincar urged the authorities to strengthen infrastructure in all the schools to promote computer education.

''Give up the CyberAge scheme for which you are spending about Rs 30 crore per annum, but divert this money for strengthening the IT infrastructure in all schools to spread IT education from the grass root level which could further fuel the technological base in Goa,'' he said.

Under the scheme introduced during the erstwhile BJP government, higher secondary school children had been given computers at a nominal cost so that they developed computer skills at home.

Interacting with mediapersons yesterday, Mr Kumkoleincar said the GCCI had been receiving a number of inquiries, even from abroad, for opening IT units in Goa following announcement of the IT policy.

He said the chamber plans to meet the state minister Dayanand Narvekar and Chief Minister pratapsingh Rane soon with its suggestions for improving the IT policy which was a fall out of its earlier interventions.

Bigger players could come if the government amended its policy to promote sub-contract system and set up more IT parks including the one proposed at Soccoro in North Goa, besides developing other infrastructure facilities like the proposed international airport at Mopa in the north and Optical Fibre Cable Network Backbone, he said.

Welcoming the incentives for employment generation in the IT industry, Mr Nitin asked the government to abolish the compulsory notification of vacancies through employment exchanges, which he said had become ''harassment centres'' particularly for the IT industry which lacked availability of instant skilled manpower.

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