PCAIT steps up to interface with govt on tenders

New Delhi: With the government has emerged as one of the biggest buyers of IT in the country, the IT channel has still not been able to make massive inroads into the sector. The Progressive Channels Association of IT (PCAIT) has come forward to rectify the situation. During their latest Executive Committee (EC) meeting one of the issues the members decided to take up was that of government tenders.

“The situation currently is such that the criteria to execute government tender is very tough in terms of business turnover, which few channel partners conform to. We want to interface with the government and ask them to relax this criteria so that the channel also gets the opportunity to bid for tenders,” explained Saket Kapur, General Secretary, PCAIT.

Signifying what can be called as the first step towards a collaborative initiative for a common cause, Kapur said, “This is an initiative we want to take up on a national level. We have already got feelers from other associations in the West. Being in Delhi, which is where the central government is based, we feel we are best suited to take on this task of being a mediator.”

PCAIT will constitute a sub-committee that will take up the issue with the respective government officials. The committee would be formed during the associations' next EC meeting which will be held on the second Saturday of September.

Speaking on behalf of Trade Association of IT (TAIT), Mumbai, Pravin Dhoka, Media Spokesperson of the association stated, “Revenue is just one of the criteria for qualifying for government tenders, but if we are able to solve this issue, which has been going on for a while now, it will benefit a large number of our channel partners.” About associating with PCAIT for the initiative, Dhoka said, “We are always there to support any association. As long as the proposal benefits our members at large we will surely review it.”

Quite a few other associations also showed their interest in partnering with PCAIT for the issue. “It is a common issue affecting channel partners across India. If someone takes up the cause, we are open to such a partnership,” stated Deepak Sharda, Secretary of Rajasthan Computer Dealers' Association (RCTA).

In Pune, Naresh Lalwani, President, Computer and Media Dealers' Association stated, “We have not got any official communication from PCAIT about the initiative but we are open to it.” Kapur informed that all interested associations can get in touch with PCAIT at pcait.delhi@gmail.com.