Goa to outsource e-governance projects to local IT companies, says CM Pramod Sawant

PANAJI: In order to give a boost to local information technology companies, the Goa government plans to outsource e-governance projects to local startups and IT firms, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Tuesday. The CM said that over the next six months, the department of information technology will identify the e-governance requirements of various departments and allot projects to empanelled IT firms.
Sawant also said that all pending benefits for IT companies and startups under the Goa IT Policy, 2018, and the Goa Startup Policy, 2017, will be released in August and September respectively.
“We have started empanelling software companies to develop solutions for the government,” said Sawant in an online interaction with Goa Technology Association (GTA). “Till now, we used to outsource all the e-governance solutions to GEL, but now we will give the companies enlisted with the Info Tech Corporation of Goa.”
Former GTA president Mangirish Salelkar said that the IT sector continues to struggle with reliable internet and power supply. Sawant said that the issues were being looked into.
Salelkar also pointed out that the 14 IT companies that sought benefits under the Goa IT Policy, 2018, have yet to see any incentives being disbursed. He also said that several startups are waiting for incentives to be disbursed.
“We have processed the 14 applications and the applications have been sent to the high powered committee,” said Sawant. “By next month, they will be sanctioned. I have given instructions that the pending disbursements under the startup policy be cleared by September.”