The IT industry boasts of two formidable bodies, Nasscom and MAIT. The two
associations campaign for the cause of the industry and try and influence
relevant government and private bodies to protect the interests of the segment.
The benefit of having associations at a national level is for everyone to
see. Nasscom and MAIT have substantial influence when new policies are being
shaped. The interest of the IT companies and to BPO outfits is kept in mind, to
ensure that business keeps flowing hassle free into the country.
The same is true for most big industry verticals in the country. However,
what is strange in IT sector is that while they have two national bodies there
are none for the IT channel. Numerous associations exist at local level, which
is mostly city and in some rare cases state level, which look after the
interests of the channel partners.
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| Shivangi Yadav |
The local level associations are a huge success, particularly in South and
West India. These associations have managed to lobby with the state governments
and get adverse rulings reversed and octroi abolished among many other things
that they have done. In short they have managed to create an impact at the city
level.
Only three larger state wise umbrella associations exist in India-UP Computer
Dealers Association (UPCDW), Confed-ITA (Confederation of IT Associations) and
the newly formed FITAG (Federation of Information Technology Associations of
Gujarat).
UPCDW was an umbrella organization that was formed by coming together of
channel association of UP. It has been largely inactive, apart from some
activities that they did when they were launched. Most city level associations
have become inactive with proceedings either being too fraught with personal ego
issues or partners busy business to have time to work on association activities.
FITAG has recently been formed, only in June. At the moment the association
looks earnest but its too early to comment on what the future might hold.
That leaves just Confed-ITA. Now Confed has been a marked study in contrast.
The association, which represents IT associations of Tamil Nadu, has been fairly
successful in raising a variety of issues with both the state government and
vendors and getting advantageous rulings for their members.
So when Confed planned to include more associations in its fold and tried to
make its presence felt at a national level, it should have been good news for
the channel community. After all here was a very active association, which had a
proven track record of lobbying for the benefit of the IT channel.
When I first heard the news, I was sure that everyone would be equally open
to the idea as I was. After all, the channel community needs a national body,
which can protect its interest. But guess I was wrong. The reaction that we got
for the initiative by Confed was surprising and sad. Most associations felt that
a national body was just not required. All of them are so comfortable in their
own small world; fighting their regular problems that somewhere they have
forgotten that the community as a whole is plagued by the same problems.
What is sadder is that when someone tries to point that out, they refuse to
see the reason. As Confed probably reviews its plans to go national, I would,
through this space, make an earnest request to all associations to rethink their
strategies and try and come together under one national body. At the end of the
day if the IT channel community has a larger body it will have more say in
influencing the vendors and governments alike.
Quoting what a colleague and a dear friend says very often, “Think about it”
shivangiy@cybermedia.o.in