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CDFG demand to implement the Cyber Age scheme as per BJP’s promise in the election manifesto
Computer Dealers Forum of Goa (CDFG) submitted a memorandum to the chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday demanding the CM to look into the alleged irregularities in the online sales and Cyber Age scheme.
Mandar Manjrekar, member of CDFG said that the CM gave positive response to the demands of the forum. He said that the CM assured the forum to implement the Cyber Age scheme as per promise given by the BJP in its election manifesto. He said that the CM assured the forum to attend their upcoming dealers meet and understand concerns of resellers.
“We had fruitful discussion with the CM. We presented him various irregularities in OLS and the Cyber Age scheme. CM Parsekar assured the forum that Cyber Age scheme would be modified so that students in class XI and above procure laptops directly from dealers of their choice who are registered with the VAT department”, he said.
The forum in its memorandum also presented facts on how the state is losing tax revenue of nearly 500 crore by not imposing commercial tax on online sales portals.
“The CM assured us to get report from the Commercial Tax department on current malpractices happening in online trade and the scheme”, Manjrekar said.
Manjrekar said that the forum appealed the CM to distribute electric bikes instead of laptops to make students travel convenient.
Since its launch, the ambitious Cyber Age scheme is in the center of controversy for alleged corruption and irregularities. Goan resellers have termed the scheme anti-IT hardware professionals and strongly opposed free distribution of laptops. Manjrekar alleged that the scheme was implemented to benefit handful of suppliers, government officials and politicians concerned.
Goa government is planning to distribute around 18,500 laptops this year. Manjrekar hoped that by giving a choice to choose a dealer, it will help to eliminate alleged fraud in the scheme.