Prakash Kamat
Panaji,September 30- In a letter addressed to people's representatives and officials of Goa Government, the GITP,body of IT professionals have given a slew of measures for creating a healthy environment in the State to boost existing businesses, attract businesses from across the globe and also give confidence to local youth to turn to entrepreneurship.
As per media reports the Goa government is in the process of reviewing the implementation of the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2020 and is in the process of collating data and inputs about their ease of doing business (EODB) action points from various departments,says GITP and goes on to urge the government to implement these measures, with a stern hand if the need be, to help entrepreneurs and businesses operate effectively in Goa and in turn help the economic revival of the state post Covid crisis.
Eliminate Ministerial involvement
Eliminate the practice of obtaining approvals from ministers and chairpersons for investment proposals. It has been proved time and again that this centralisation of the otherwise decentralised file movement process is a major bottleneck. Despite having the highest per capita number of government employees, if Goa shows such a dismal performance, it is clear that we need to fix the bottlenecks in the processes being followed.
Single Window
The hassle free Single Window System and not yet another window added to the umpteen permission windows should be put in place ASAP. The system should have 100% online interaction. All instructions regarding expectations of the government in terms of certificates/permissions/NoCs/ Plans /licenses etc should be described on the website so that there is minimal back and forth interaction between government and the applicant.
Simplified workflows
Provide Simplified WorkFlows(SWF) to ensure that irrelevant departments and their approvals are eliminated.
Deemed Approval
All approvals have to be time-bound and the system should provide a deemed approval if it is not acted upon within the allocated timeframe. This should also result in a financial penalty on the concerned officer for dereliction of duty. It was promised during Vibrant Goa to provide approvals within 30 days. Almost a year later, this concept does not seem to have moved beyond paper.
Using Services of consultant to tap industries with expansion/shifting plans
Ernst & Young who has been taken on board by the Goa Government can also be asked to suggest a policy framework to attract industries that are planning to move out or expand from other states and countries especially from China.
Develop power infrastructure and facilitate tapping alternate sources of renewable energy
Blessed with renewable energy sources in abundance, Goa is rightly placed to serve as a model for generating solar, tidal and wind energy. This is the right time for the govt to make these efforts in association with the center and with international agencies to set up such plants in Goa. The Govt needs to widely publicize and enforce the rooftop solar power generation scheme and ensure that the promised benefits reach the beneficiaries in the stipulated time frame. This will help motivate many more to take up such initiatives.
Technical Education geared towards creating industry ready manpower
Industry looks for productivity from the hired candidates. The quality of graduates and their industry-readiness needs to be improved by setting up an Industry-Academics partnership so that the years of graduation are utilized most optimally and students are made aware of industrial best practices. This will eventually reduce the costs borne by industry in training the new hires.
E-Governance
The time is ripe for using and fine tuning E-Governance systems. Robust E-Governance systems will enable Govt employees to work from anywhere, streamlining the governance processes and ensure that hurdles are minimised in meeting permission deadlines . This needs investment in infrastructure for setting up an integrated system. Benefits of E-governance are well known. We are sure the local IT community will readily help in this effort for evaluating the technical options.
Robust B2G interface for Existing Businesses
Provide effective online Business-to-Governance interface to existing businesses.
Simplified Registration
Please do not ask for irrelevant information which can be digitally obtained from various govt owned sources when registering a business Please understand that companies have to focus on their business rather than spend time in providing extensive details.
Improve Connectivity
The Connectivity scenario in Goa needs to be improved on priority. Full potential of both GBBN and BSNL need to be leveraged through strict government intervention and regulation over quality of service and price. Private players also need to be strictly regulated, not with the intention of making things difficult for them, but to ensure that they ensure the best price performance ratio. All internet service providers in the state should be made to cater to sparsely populated areas if they wish to continue their business in thickly populated areas. While permitting setting up of mobile towers as per the new announced Telecom policy too, locals should be taken into confidence. Places which will have least negative impact and in turn least resistance need to be selected in consultation with local residents. Huge benefits can be accrued if just this one factor is taken care of. Goa being a city state, IT Anywhere and Concept like Swaympurna Gaon, Sampanna Goem floated by the state government will have some hope for turning into reality if and only if fundamental needs like connectivity are met with effectively.
If we are to grow as a State and lift the economy of the state from the Pandemic induced low it is currently going through there is only one way out. All stakeholders will have to shed their self/community/party etc centric approach and work towards improving the messed up ecosystem of the state. Above listed pointers need to be the new economy boosting mantras. Government needs to understand the urgency of the situation and get going before it is really too late,says the letter.
Goa needs to be no less than No. 1 in EODB considering its small size and the resulting ease of manageability. Goa also has a number of professionals who want to see their state prosper. GITP, for example, has members who have designed and developed such systems for international organizations. Instead of spending hundreds of crores on, it would be worthwhile to involve the state's educated manpower in building the system.
It has said that they will be closely monitoring the steps being taken by the government using tools such as RTI and will also be reporting to the Central government based on the progress they see.(eom)
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