Shilpa Shinde,
Secretary-Director IT, Government of Goa
Shilpa Shinde, Secretary-Director IT, Government of Goa shares with Kartik Sharma with Manish Arora of Elets News Network (ENN) how the new IT policy will ensure that Goa becomes a prime destination for IT investments
What are the major initiatives being undertaken by Department of IT (DoIT), Government of Goa?
Department of IT, Government of Goa has already undertaken a number of initiatives like Goa Broad Band Network, SDC, IT Knowledge Centres, Broad band connectivity to schools and institutes and various citizen centric e-services through e-governance project. Presently DoIT is focusing on Software Technology Parks and Electronic System Design Manufacturing.
In what way is the Government trying to attract IT companies to the state?
Government of Goa has always been an investor friendly pro-industry state. In order to ensure Goa as a prime destination for IT investments, state has come up with an IT Investment Policy which contains number of attractive incentives related to taxes, power, land, training, quality certification etc.
Is there any special package of incentive being offered to IT companies who want to invest in your state?
Yes, companies with large investments and also the companies who can create employment opportunities for the locals in large numbers would be considered for special incentives over and above stated in the Policy.
Government of India has initiated Digital India initiative. What according to you is the importance of this programme?
Digital India Programme provides a comprehensive roadmap to bring everybody on a digital platform. The nine pillars of digital India focus on all aspects of Information and Technology with ultimate objective of creating knowledge society. The benefits of this society can be availed by every person be it student, a common man or a farmer or a government department.
What is your vision for the state in terms of e-governance through which government can reach services to the citizens?
State of Goa is already way ahead in terms of providing e-Governance related services to its citizens. Its objectives are very much in line with those defined under Digital India and Make in India. As a Secretary-Director of IT Department, my mandate is to bring more and more people under the fold of e-governance by deploying innovative, cost effective and sustainable IT solutions which would enable us to transform state into a smart state.