What Should Kejriwal do for IT?

While I am writing this, Arvind Kejriwal and his merry band of AAP-ians are likely to take oath and be sworn in as ministers and MLAs in Ramlila Ground tomorrow; by the time you read this the AAP government will be in place in Delhi (barring any Congress-orchestrated last-minute glitches).

While Kejriwal already looks set to put in motion actions to fulfil his promises of 700 litres of water and reducing power bills (through audit of power companies), I was wondering what should be his IT agenda for Delhi. And if the Aam Aadmi government delivers on that agenda, can it be replicated for a national IT roadmap?

For one the taxing issue of non-uniformity in VAT for different IT products should be resolved. While most IT products attract a VAT of 5%, multi-functional printers attract a VAT@12.5%. This is applicable for all the MFPs sold since 2007. This move started in Delhi and is now being followed in other states too; a rectification drive on the Delhi agenda could automatically see the fire spreading elsewhere too.

There is also a long standing demand for simplification of VAT rate-structure and procedures, The issues which lie at the center include instances of untimely, late evening visits by VAT officials to partners (in Nehru Place and elsewhere) claiming to be from VAT Enforcement Directorate and using extortionist methods to harass channel partners. With Kejriwal demanding transparency in every department, this can uproot one major avenue of corruption afflicting IT partners for a long time.

Another big grievance of traders has been the dilapidated state of infrastructure in Nehru Place. Despite Nehru Place being one of the largest IT hubs in Asia doing nearly Rs 30 crore of business daily, it has long been plagued by issues of piracy, unhygeinic civic facilities, lack of security and a myriad of other problems.

Repeated complaints to all authorities including MCD, the police, the Lieutenant Governor and even the previous CM Sheila Dikshit have only brought hollow assurances but not followed by any concrete actions. Most of the Nehru Place community feels Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi will look to retrieve the situation. The real success will be measured if they can beautify and improve the infrastructure of Nehru Place to make it comparable to Simlim Square. That model can then be replicated for all IT hubs across the country (especially driven by various civil movements.)

Please write to me on what you expect from Kejriwal and his government. And those of you not from Delhi, what would you like the AAP and other such civil movements to achieve in your states.