MAY 2022
VOL 8 ISSUE 5 PANAJI GOA
RNI No.: GOAENG/2015/59955
GOA’S ONLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE
POSTAL LICENSE No.: G-2/RNP/Monthly/Goa-19/2021-23
INDUSTRY DOSSIER
EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
MINING COS ASKED TO VACATE LEASES
FOCUS ON REFORMS
“Goa has everything for everyone”
INDUSTRY FOCUS
FiiRE: STARTUP CRADLE
NILESH SHAH PRESIDENT, TTAG
SPEXMOJO UNIQUE EYEWEAR
TECHNOLOGY
IDEAS FOR BUSINESS CONTINUITY
BRAND
COMMUNITY
TANMAY KHOLKAR
BLANK SLATE TO REAL ESTATE
The founder of Goa’s fastest growing real estate company Manas Developers, lays bare the tale of being a first-generation entrepreneur, redefining the real-estate landscape, and taking a leap of faith
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NEWS VIEWS ARTICLES INTERVIEWS PROFILES FOCUS ANALYSIS OPINIONS EVENTS FEATURES
CONTENTS Cover Story 12
Tanmay Kholkar, founder of Goa’s fastest growing real estate company Manas Developers, lays bare the tale of being a first-gen entrepreneur, redefining the real-estate landscape, and taking a leap of faith
Focus Goa / Mining 20
The Government has directed mining leaseholders to vacate their leases; some companies have petitioned the court challenging the order
Focus Goa / Reforms 22
Stakeholders of various industries come together to suggest ways and means of improving EoDB rankings in the State
12
Focus Goa / Tech Community 24
Goa Technology Association brings the state’s eminent techpreneurs together to share their ideas for the industry
Starting Young 26
Dielle Pillay highlights her journey from learning music when she was a child to opening up her own music academy
Interview 28 30
28 36
Nilesh Shah, who has been re-elected as President of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa talks about his plans for Brand Goa
Brand 30
Spexmojo’s goal is to be the trusted advisor for their clients by investing their money to preserve capital and deliver long-term returns
Lady Power 36
Shreya Rohir Naik is the director of Traveldeck, a travel agency that promises its clients adventures and experiences like never before
Bon Appetit 58
26
58
COLUMNS
Savour the flavours of Kerala with signature dishes by Chef Latha at the Grand Hyatt Goa
46 Beyond Classroom
54 Market ka Samay
48 CSR Incubator
55 Women and Health
50 Cabbages and Queen
56 Wise Words
Dr. Pradeep Salgaonkar challenges the dictum that ‘the customer is always right’ by sharing examples of bad customers
Kishore Shah explains how a technology college in Coimbatore is facilitating CSR among students and the society in general Nandini Vaidyanathan tells us how one can inculcate management temper; and the composition behind the idea
52 Invest Right
Mahesh Pai highlights the different reasons why NRIs should invest in India
04 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
Samay Shetti captures the mood of the Indian bourses in the month gone by
Dr Emanuel Gracias analyses and addresses the cases involving painful intercourse
CA Santosh Kenkre places great importance on good business communication for smooth functioning of enterprises
06 Editorial 08 Corpo Scan 32 Campus 33 BookShelf 34 Technology 38 Biz Bytes 44 Event 60 Newsmakers 60 BG Quiz
Shree Mahalakshmi Damodar Prasanna
EDITORIAL
The Government should walk the talk MAY 2022 Publisher & Editor Harshvardhan Bhatkuly Group Director Urvija Bhatkuly Business Head Annalise Gouveia Chief Reporter Sybil Rodrigues Graphic Designer Rakshama Naik Circulation Mayur Santineskar Contributors in this Issue Dr Emanuel Gracias Kishore M. Shah Mahesh Pai Nandini Vaidyanathan Dr. Pradeep Salgaonkar Samay Shetti CA Santosh Kenkre Sweta Sharma PRESENTED BY
Editorial, Advertising & Administrative Office
Business Goa
409, Citicentre, EDC Patto Plaza, Panaji, 403001 Goa India Tel.: 09834340633 Email: businessgoa.media@gmail.com Unsolicited material may not be returned. The opinions in columns and other stories expressed in Business Goa Industry Dossier are not necessarily that of the publishers and the Publisher/Editor shall not be held liable for any inaccuracy or otherwise. While great care is being taken to ensure accuracy of information, the publishers are not responsible for omissions or incorrect information. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers.
The common refrain among the political class, when confronted with administrative or developmental underperformance, is that had the people given us a clear mandate, we would be performing magic. The idea usually is to pass the buck back to the people. The current government, however, is in luck and has a comfortable mandate. And with an opposition – as fragmented and emasculated as it is – there is little to challenge the ruling dispensation. While this may not augur well for democracy, as the onus of holding the government accountable will again be in the hands of a few activists, NGOs and industry organisations, this government has the opportunity to deliver on the promises made to the people. If one takes a closer look at the composition of the government, barring a new face here and there, it remains pretty much the same so far as the ministries are concerned. The reins of power are held by a handful of ministers. There does not appear to be any radical change on the cards, from the previous regime, in terms of policy rollout or, going by the people who are in decision-making roles. Two facts though will play a big role, from an administrative perspective, unlike what happened or did not over the last three years. One is the pandemic’s easing out or, more appropriately, being accepted as the new normal. The second, and this is more relevant to the scheme of things, is the general elections that are slated to happen in 2024. Although Goa has only two seats to offer the parliament, the ruling party would like to repeat the 2014 hustings and grab both seats. For that to happen, a lot hinges on restarting mining. The state putting the leaseholders to notice asking them to vacate their fiefdoms by 6 June has set the cat among pigeons. Expectedly, the miners have sought legal recourse and approached the courts. The state, on the other hand, seems anxious to restart mining operations by auctioning
06 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
Harshvardhan Bhatkuly
the leases. The mining workers, whom their employers retrenched, are waiting with bated breath to resume their jobs. Other stakeholders like the barge operators, truckers and several other dependents, require the mining mill back to put food on their table. The government needs to be bold and decisive while retaining economic focus intact and not play favourites. The centre appears to be favouring auctioning the lease areas, and the top bosses in Delhi seem to be exerting enough pressure, going by the trips made by the CM to the national capital. The town and country planning, though, seems to be blowing hot and cold at the same time. The pandemic has made Goa’s idyllic locales much more desirable to the big boys from big cities, who are heading here in droves eager to turn Goa’s villages into extensions of their city’s suburbs. Land prices in villages like Assagao have tripled, if not quadrupled, in the last two years, with developers from the metros not getting enough of Goa’s beauty. Big promises to cleanse the land mafia were made, while on the other hand, the permissible ratio of building hotels has amplified four times, with special emphasis on land banks in areas like the Kadamba plateau. The same goes for tourism. Promises are made to promote new verticals while cleansing the previous regime’s high-handedness. The people of Goa, whom I talk to, are not taken in by these promises. They have been at the receiving end of these blank and undated cheques for a long time. There is, understandably, cynicism among stakeholders when it comes to government delivery or the lack of it. The month of July will witness a long assembly session, almost a month of legislative work. Hopefully, the budget bill will be discussed in greater detail and will eventually meet its desired objective. But the proof of the pudding lies in the eating. The government needs to do some serious talking
Printed, published and owned by Harshvardhan V. Bhatkuly and printed at Elegant Offset Printers, D2-31, Tivim Industrial Estate, Karaswada, Mapusa Goa 403526 and published at 409, Citicentre, EDC Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa 403001. Editor: Harshvardhan V. Bhatkuly
CORPO SCAN
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Fresh bids sought for convention centre at Dona Paula
The government has invited fresh bids for construction of a 5,000-seater, world-class international convention centre at Dona Paula, under the public private partnership (PPP) mode, on design-build-financeoperate-and-transfer (DBFOT) basis. The concessionaire will have to construct facilities including construction of a 5,000-seater convention hall, a 300-room convention hotel, four-screen multiplex, retail mall, etc. The project is to be set up on the 98,299 sq mt that is 24.29 acres of prime land located at Dona Paula. The bids are invited from reputed national and international
developers either as single entity or as a consortium. The details will be available on eprocure.goa.gov.in from May 16, 2022. This is the second time that the government has called for bids for the convention centre project. In August 2021, the government had finalised the highest bidder, DCS SolarVascon consortium for the development of the first phase of this project, costing over `800 crore. However, in March 2022, the government cancelled the Letter of Award granted to the consortium after it failed to furnish the performance guarantee of `16.2 crore
Mopa Airport over 75% complete, including runways
Director of Goa Civil Aviation, Sunil Shanbhogue said that more than 75% of the work on the international Greenfield airport at Mopa has been completed, including the completion of runways. Shanbhogue said that the work on connectivity from the runway to the passenger terminal is underway. He added that the technical building has already been handed over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and will hand over the air traffic control (ATC) building next week. The installation of equipment at the technical building will begin soon. The state government has targeted inaugurating the airport at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15
August, this year. The total project cost has increased to `2,615 crore because of delays due to judicial proceedings and the pandemic. Under the concession agreement, GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) can operate the business for 40 years, extendable by another 20 years. The airport project will be carried out in four phases. The construction of the second phase will commence only after 80% of the passenger traffic is handled. According to an official, after the infrastructure is ready, it takes around six months to ensure all the necessary permissions and clearances from authorities to begin operations
08 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
Tourism Department firm on decision to control water sports activities
The decision to freeze issuance of new permissions for water sports activities, till fresh guidelines or rules are made applicable, has been taken in view of the rise in the number of operators over the last few years. This sector has remained out of control with most operators operating without paying heed to the Tourism Department’s instructions. “There are some beach stretches where about 300 operators operate, causing congestion,” an officer of the Tourism Department said.
With the Captain of Ports being the main agency to issue permissions after examining water sports gear, many don’t approach the Tourism Department even as registration under the Tourist Trade Act is mandatory. “We want to have rules as well as set the carrying capacity of each beach stretch to avoid congestion of operators. While new permissions will not be issued, we want to have everything in order before the next season starts,” the officer said
Consultation process for new Industrial policy on: Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho Mauvin Godinho, minister for Industries, said that he has commenced the consultation process for framing of the new industrial policy that is aimed at streamlining processes to encourage new investors and industries to come to Goa. Godinho stated that he has also sought the opinion of the industry stakeholders. Further, he mentioned that he held a detailed discussion with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on various matters including how to streamline the process to allot land to industries. Godinho said that the state government is looking for ways to allot land to industries in a transparent manner. He also added that the focus would be on encouraging Goan
Mauvin Godinho
industry. “We will give first preference to Goans who want to expand their industry in the industrial estate. However, while giving them preference, we have to also bring in new industries to the state and both these things have to happen simultaneously
IPB unfreezes single window applications
With all elections formalities having been completed and the code of conduct lifted, Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPB) stated that investors seeking industry approvals can once again apply for permissions online. The state government had stopped accepting applications from investors wanting to set up manufacturing facilities in private land or expand their facilities. Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board’s online single window system was put on ‘freeze mode’
due to code of conduct and is now ‘unfreezed’, the state government stated. “Applications for new investments with regards to own land requiring Investment Promotion Area notification and not requiring land from Goa Industrial Development Corporation. It is also unfreezed for application for expansion with regards to own land requiring Investment Promotion Area notification and also for land not required from GIDC”, said a press communique
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CORPO SCAN
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Power woes continue, industries calls for investment in better infrastructure Representatives from the Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) and the Kundaim Industrial Estate said that the Goa Electricity Department (GED) needs to work on a long term solution if it wants to resolve the state’s power problems, particularly the erratic power supplied to industries. The delegation met power minister Sudin Dhavalikar and shared details about the daily power cuts and the impact on the industrial machinery. GED officials were also present for the meeting and assured industry representatives and the minister that the power supply situation will improve. President of Kundaim Industrial Estate, Kiran Sirsat said that the department promised to correct the situation within 10 to 15 days and may provide an
alternate transformer at Ponda as a long term measure. “The Electricity Department will also explore the possibility of tapping the supply from the Amona feeder and then supply the power to Kundaim.” Meanwhile, Damodar Kochkar, President of GSIA, urged the government to invest in better power infrastructure, while stating that there were at least three power outages per day at Verna Industrial Estate. Further, he added that GED needs to take up underground cabling at all the industrial clusters and also purchase new transformers. Kochkar also said that during a planned shutdown, the industry can arrange for backup generators but unplanned power cuts affect the heavy machinery and disrupt the flow of work
As economy bounces back, GST collection in Goa up by 21% in a month Goa’s GST collection showed a strong upward trend in April, climbing up to to 21% since March. At `470 crore collections are also up 17% against the same month last year, when collections stood at `407 crore. Tax collections showed an increase because of the filing of GSTR-1 and GSR-3B returns for March. Improvement in compliance behavior, timely filing of returns and strict enforcement action against errant taxpayers helped tax officials shore up the collections. In March, the GST collections had recorded a 12% year on year growth, touching `386 crore. Tax
collections have improved after the drop in covid-19 cases across the country prompted a strong rebound in tourism. In comparison, tax collections in December last year stood at `592 crore. The state GST collections continue to remain below the VAT collections that the state would earn before GST was introduced in July 2017
CM meets Tata chief, N Chandrasekaran to discuss investment in Goa
WILL AMEND RECRUITMENT RULES TO BRING SKILLED TALENT: DR PRAMOD SAWANT The Government will amend rules to recruit skilled professionals in government department. The state has also started a tie up with private industries for the recruitment of Goans. The Chief Minister said, “There is a need to change recruitment rules for many jobs, as there are no such courses available for some jobs which are required in our state, hence there are no qualified professionals. In the next two years, these courses that are not available – small certificate courses, diploma courses, oneyear courses will be started through skill development programmers’. Those who have those qualifications will get jobs in the government or private sector”. He also added that the posts of barber and chef were advertised but there are no candidates available. “There are job opportunities available in Goa, and we need to grab these opportunities”, the Chief Minister added. The ongoing jobs recruitment in Goa Shipyard, after enquired how
Dr Pramod Sawant meeting Tata Chief N. Chandrasekaran, in the presence of Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho and Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel
many Goans applied, found that only 49 Goans applied for the job. There is a need to upgrade skills so that jobs opportunities in government as well as private sectors will be taken by Goans and courses like ITI (plumbing, electrician, gardening, etc) can be used for self-employment. To commence a startup in Goa, one will no longer need IT background, even an ITI alumnus or any background can start one, and the state government will offer a grant of `10 lakh, if the startup meets the required criteria
10 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
To amplify investment in Goa for the booming industries needed a push and to discuss that, the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant met Tata Sons Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, Noel Tata and other CEOs, in the presence of industries minister Mauvin Godinho and chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel. The Chief Minister said that Goa possesses immense potential for industrial development and employment generation. There are many possible opportunities in sectors like IT, retail, aviation manufacturing, training for hospitality and soft skill required for everyday. With collaboration with TATA, the courses will offer a
wide range of opportunities in the industrial and other sectors, which will lead to increase in job opportunities. The CMO said that, to promote and advance business in Goa, Chandrasekaran had promised that he will discuss about the same in their internal meeting with their top CEOs. This will lead to a greater development in Goa, national and international recognition for booming industrial and IT industry creating additional revenue to such an extent with creating identity not only for the State but also the people. The meeting was arranged by Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), with an agenda to boost MSME growth and improvement in Goa
COVER STORY
Tanmay Kholkar, founder of Goa’s fastest growing real estate company MANAS DEVELOPERS, lays bare the tale of being a first-generation entrepreneur, redefining the realestate landscape, and taking a leap of faith
BLANK SLATE TO REAL ESTATE Tanmay Kholkar’s Journey as a First Generation Entrepreneur
12 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
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M
uch like a construction project that is built from the ground up, Tanmay Kholkar’s story is one that begins from a blank slate, destined to write its own fate. As a first-generation entrepreneur born into a household which hadn’t ventured into business, his maiden enterprise, Manas Developers, is the fruition of his vision to craft his very own legacy. “Ours was a rather conventional middle-class family set-up – a banker for a father and a teacher for a mother,” he shares, “there was no business background whatsoever.” As he affirms, it was not the zeal to be his own boss that chalked the entrepreneurial walk, but the liberty to grow at his own pace, to create and innovate in the arena rather than join the rat race. The drive to build his own venture didn’t stem from a pre-set agenda, rather, it catapulted as an organic inkling from his fascination with the stories of entrepreneurs who set off from humble beginnings, scurrying their success to dizzying
Manas Developers pride themselves on being a class apart. Besides staying true to their innovative streak by developing distinct living spaces that deviate from the norm, much emphasis is laid on delivering top-notch quality in each endeavour
Manas Pela Capela at Quelossim
Being a sanctuary of sentiments, venerating the sanctity of the soil is something that Tanmay swears by. One such example of cultural sensibilities is the Manas Pela Capela heights. Besides behemoths like the Tatas and Birlas who many look up to, Goan entrepreneurs like the Dempos, the Salgaocars and a first generation entrepreneur like Anil Counto became a source of inspiration for the thriving entrepreneur in a young Tanmay Kholkar. His biggest role model, however, is his father, Ulhas Kholkar – his ardent ally and strongest supporter. Speaking about his father, he explains,
“My father, despite having no knowledge of the business scene, has an ingenious marketing bent of mind that made him the most brilliant guide, mentor and PR manager that my younger self could ever ask for.” Quite apt as he puts it, the banker father knew his way around people and their ponderings, thereby weaving for his son an elaborate network of individuals – modest,
prominent and illustrious. Not only did he expose Tanmay to the myriad of dynamics among people in the market, but also enabled him to appropriate the boon of confidence when interacting with folks of all kinds. “I owe it all to my Baba – the catalyst who cradled my dreams to culmination,” the first-generation entrepreneur beams with pride. Schooling at the Bal Bharati Vidya Mandir School
Manas Country at Neura MAY 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 13
COVER STORY in Ribandar brought him in contact with students hailing from families with modest as well as impressive professional backgrounds – business being a major page turner for him.. This, he states, was an eye-opening experience that holistically transfixed his affections to the world of business, eager to make his mark in the field. Why real estate? One might ask. To this question, Tanmay remarks, “In this industry, the projects that we construct will always remain as living archives of our labour – the feeling of fulfillment one derives from seeing their edifice stand tall is nothing short of bliss.” That’s not all why real estate became his refuge. “The need for housing is one that never falls short – the industry is here for the keeps,” he claims. Moreover, the real estate industry offers ample leeway to be creative and explore divergent possibilities that probe beyond the curbs of brick and mortar. While these are rather pragmatic points of perception to look at, it all began when his father appointed him as a supervisor for a project that he was offered to develop by a friend at a small site in Porvorim. At twenty-one, scarcely stimulated by a stipend of 150 rupees, Tanmay Kholkar was instead fiercely fuelled by the fervour to fix his finesse in the field. “This opportunity enabled me to establish my foothold in the industry. My success at handling this project seemed
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like a seal of approval, bearing reassurance that this was the path for me.” As the story goes, this path was indeed made for him. From initially starting off as a contracting company, Tanmay has managed to carve a niche for his enterprise as a widely preferred development partner in Goa. The ‘Manas’ in Manas Developers, which is the name of Tanmay’s son, implying fortitude of the mind, is a reflection of the grit and persistence that makes a person who he or she sets out to be. Manas Developers, staying true to its name, has battled against all odds to emerge as the fastest growing real estate company in the state. Despite the stiff competition in the real estate industry in Goa, twenty years as contractors and eight trips around the sun as developers has led Tanmay’s enterprise to
14 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
concretize. Doing things ‘out-of-thebox’ is the rally call of this real estate magnate in the making. While that’s not what he would like to be called, his initiatives towards building homes and not mere concrete boxes definitely makes him a worthy recipient of this sobriquet. “It’s more about delivering the product the right way and less about the money. Giving concrete shape to our client’s dream of owning a home which is a place of pride for their family gives us the most satisfaction and is at the very core of our commitment,” he states. Moreover, there is always something for everyone at Manas Developers, which is a member of CREDAI Goa. Valued in lakhs or crores, standard or ultra-premium, diversity is the hallmark of their offerings. In no way does any Kaya at Lakeview Miramar, Panaji
client feel left out, be it in terms of their budget or their aesthetic needs. At the same time, being a sanctuary of sentiments, venerating the sanctity of the soil is something that Tanmay swears by. One such example of cultural sensibilities is the Manas Pela Capela. Nestled in the verdant relief of Verna’s mushrooming modern locale, this reflection of an uberswanky lifestyle also pays poignant homage to the heritage of the land. As strong believers in the marvels of the almighty, Tanmay and his team sought to seek the warm blessings of Our Lady of Vailankanni. They paid their respects to the Vailankanni chapel in the vicinity by christening the project as Manas Pela Capela, a Portuguese term for ‘Manas by the chapel.’ “It is been a fruitful journey,” he beams, looking back on the highs and lows, ebbs and flows that made him the man that he is. Entrepreneurship is not a walk in the park, and that’s a truth universally acknowledged. However, it is this drive to navigate these challenges that defines the viability of his enterprise. The biggest challenge for his venture, according to Tanmay, is gaining the trust of clients. Handling this challenge with utmost sincerity is crucial as it all begins and ultimately ends with customer satisfaction. “These are people who
COVER STORY trust us with their hard-earned money and savings when they show interest in any property that we offer. But it is not just a piece of land – it is a product of emotions, expectations, and aspirations that is closely attached to their faith in our integrity,” notes Tanmay. That’s not all. Another major hurdle is the general public perception that all real estate players are anchored by a cartel of unscrupulous intentions, always prepared to pounce on their prey – charging exorbitant prices for poor quality construction, indulging in unfair practices, and violating the code of ethics. “While these concerns are justified, such sweeping generalisation happen to offer a lopsided view of the real estate landscape as a whole,” he asserts. True, as he says, such categorization fails to segregate the ones who seek to do good from those who are bent on blaring the bad. “On our part we are extremely conscious about being sustainable and conscious of the environment that we dwell in, be it through up-cycling of materials, smart planning which takes into account natural lighting and ensuring adequate green cover in all our projects”, emphasises Tanmay. Moreover the real estate
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Tanmay with president of Panjim Gymkhana, Manoj Caculo at the PGML
Style, aesthetics and functionality are the hallmarks of a Manas project. From luxury villas to upscale commercial establishments with smart cosmopolitan design, Manas Developers create projects across varied segments. Presently, Manas Developers are working on three prestigious projects in
the capital city - Panaji, namely Lotus Towers, Miramar Towers and KAYA. Additionally, Manas Country and Manas Hills are being developed in the picturesque village of Neura. Two other exciting projects are upcoming premium villa projects in the picturesque villages of Salvador Do Mundo and Moira
industry is always in the spotlight. He hopes however that the government aids in the ease of doing business,
supporting their ethical and sustainable undertakings. Manas Developers pride themselves on being a class
Tanmay at the player auction of the PGML
16 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
apart. Besides staying true to their innovative streak by developing distinct living spaces that deviate from the norm, much emphasis is laid on delivering top-notch quality in each endeavour. “We do our best to win the trust of our clients by honouring our ideals and ethics, above and beyond providing user-friendly design and striking aesthetics that exude a feel-good effect,” the prime mover of Manas Developers conjures. When asked about his vision for the blooming of his enterprise, Tanmay meekly ascertains that he has no plans to diversify. “We are solely focused on doing what we do best at the moment. Foraying into divergent arenas is a risky venture – a luxury that a first generation enterprise like ours cannot afford as of now,” he shares. Being a first generation entrepreneur is associated with innumerable demands both at home and at the workplace. However, this family man has managed to strike just the ideal work-life balance. Selfcare activities that foster a healthy mind and body – yoga, badminton, swimming, or even a run on the beach – are some of the strategies that help him
COVER STORY straddle the stipulations of his calling. Being an avid cricket enthusiast, he also became the owner of the very competitive cricket team ‘Manas Mavericks’, one of the only five teams that were part of the maiden edition of the prestigious Panjim Gymkhana Members League (PGML) held in early 2022. Giving back to society is important to Tanmay. As a member of Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town, he has been funding the education of students for the last several years. “Many of them are now successful professionals working in India and abroad. They continue to stay in touch and I am proud of the individuals that they are today,” says a visibly emotional Tanmay. From extending assistance to organisations with medical supplies and essentials, through the pandemic to offering support to educational and sports establishments, Tanmay stays committed to the cause of giving back. “That’s why I have established KayaM Trust,” he explains. Community outreach will be executed through the trust in the years ahead. A father of two, Manas and Kaya, Tanmay appears to have his hand full, managing his household as well as his entrepreneurial stronghold. Even so, he is adept at managing his time fairly
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Tanmay along with his wife Krupa and children Manas and Kaya
well. But he doesn’t do it all alone – his wife, Krupa, has a pivotal role to play in this regard. “My wife has always been my anchor support,” he shares, “from helping out with the business in its formative years to taking charge of the family, she is an inspiration.” Krupa, hailing from Baroda, in Gujarat, is quite the resourceful personality. She has also taken to entrepreneurial pursuits through her artisanal candle
making venture ‘Lit n Glow.’ Tanmay reminisces about his late father-in-law. “My father in law Kamalesh Chokshi has been a great supporter of my work and has shared his wisdom and advice on business with me when I needed it the most. We lost him last year unfortunately and that void is going to stay with us always.” Being an entrepreneur has its fair share of struggles, but it is also incredibly rewarding. If
not an entrepreneur, what other role would he fancy? To this question, Tanmay responds in a nonchalant note – “a nomad.” His passion for travelling has taken him to numerous places across the globe. Appreciating the cultural idiosyncrasies, relishing the gastronomic delicacies, and discovering the historical rarities of lands far and near are something that he takes utmost delight in. That’s not all, having developed a keen interest in classical music at a very young age; he would have found his musing in singing. However, fate and fervour had other plans. While those plans panned out just right, it wasn’t without its fair share of trials. Having trailed through the thrills and travails of being a first generation entrepreneur, Tanmay has some words of worth for aspiring entrepreneurs. He urges budding go-getters to have faith in their abilities and own up to their follies. Retrospection and introspection should be the key tools of tactic. “Believe in yourself, trust your ‘manas’, and take a leap of faith – things will ultimately fall into place,” he encapsulates the essence of his learning. Tanmay has taken a giant leap from his humble beginnings to where he stands today. He now has his sights set firmly on the future ahead, the future certainly looks bright!
Tanmay Kholkar along with his team at the Manas Developers office in Campal
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FOCUS GOA / MINING
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Government orders mining companies to vacate their leases
While the State Government has requested leaseholders to vacate their leases along with their equipment, some companies have petitioned the court challenging the order
I
By SYBIL RODRIGUES
n a step towards auction of iron ore mining leases in Goa, the State government has issued notices to 88 mining lessees, to vacate all the machinery and equipment from the leasehold area by June 6th. The notices were issued after Goa Foundation, an environmental NGO, filed a petition before the Bombay High Court at Goa, saying that the state government was reluctant to take possession of the leases. The petition cited rules requiring tenants to remove their devices from the premises within a month of the end of the rental period. Most mining tracts in the state, located in the hinterland, were given as concessions to bidders by the Portuguese government during the colonial era, but a series of alleged illegalities, including an alleged `35,000 crore illegal mining scam as well as irregularities in the lease renewal processes, had forced the Supreme Court to crack down on the industry, which has been shut down to a large extent since 2018. The Director of Mines Vivek HP (IAS) confirmed that the notices are issued to the erstwhile leaseholders and the same are uploaded on the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) official website. He said a time of one month is granted to remove all machinery. The state government has already put in place, the Goa Mineral Development Corporation under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, through which the mines would be auctioned. The urgency of the move is related to the government wanting to auction the leases according to the decisions that the center is firm on. The move appears to be a step towards the e-auction of mining leases. At a recent meeting in New
Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had directed Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to fast track the mining e-auction process, which will be through the Goa Mineral Development Corporation. Pointing out that over six months have elapsed after the expiry of the leases, the DMG has asked all the leaseholders, whose leases were quashed by the Supreme Court, to comply with the provisions of Rule 12 (1) (hh) of the Mineral Concessions Rules, 2016 within a period of one month with effect from May 6. Mines Director Vivek has warned of taking further action as per the MMDR Act and Rules if the leaseholders fail to adhere to the notice. These 88 mining leases came to an end by virtue of the Supreme Court judgment on April 21, 2014, and again on February 7, 2018. The Apex Court in its 2014 order had noted that the leases, which were operating under the presumption of “deemed extension” in the State from 2007 to 2012 considering it to be a second renewal, had been doing so without the necessary permits. The leases had, in fact, expired in 2007. In the 2018 order, the Supreme Court quashed the second renewals granted to these leases pointing to several irregularities and favouritism
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88 mining leases came to an end by virtue of the Supreme Court judgment on April 21, 2014, and again on February 7, 2018. The Apex Court in its 2014 order had noted that the leases, which were operating under the presumption of “deemed extension” in the State from 2007 to 2012 considering it to be a second renewal, had been doing so without the necessary permits. The leases had, in fact, expired in 2007 while renewing them between November 2014 and January 2015. A belated attempt by the mining company Vedanta Ltd, who approached the Supreme Court to seek an extension of leases up to 2037 citing a technicality, was rejected by the Supreme Court last year. The mining industry was a major revenue and employment generator for the state and at its peak, contributed close to 15% of the State’s GDP. Goa used to export 54 million tonnes of iron ore per annum before the ban came into effect in 2012 as a result of the Shah Commission report. While some mining activity continues, the industry is but a pale shadow of what it once was. Notices have been issued to Sesa Resources Ltd, Vedanta
Ltd, Chowgule & Co Ltd, VM Salgaocar & Brothers Pvt Ltd, Kunda Gharse, Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd, Sesa Mining Corporation Ltd, Damodar Mangalji, Bandekar Brothers Pvt Ltd, Sociedade De Fomento, Madachem Bhat Pvt Ltd, Rajaram Bandekar Mines, Geetabala Parulekar, Lithoferro, among others. In the notice, DMG pointed out that after the quashing of the second renewals in February 2018, the Court had granted six months’ time to all the lessees to carry out the transportation of minerals. Again, in October 2020, the Court allowed time for the transportation of minerals up to the end of January 2021 for the removal of minerals excavated or mined on or before March 15, 2018 subject to payment of royalties and other charges. Environmentalist Claude Alvares, who heads the Goa Foundation, an NGO which has been keeping tabs on illegal mining and seeking judicial intervention in sectoral illegalities for nearly two decades, has urged the state government to ensure that the process of e-auctioning by the Corporation should be conducted in a thorough manner, without being influenced by mining companies. He stated that the state’s economy cannot ‘afford another disaster’.
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Meanwhile, the All India Trade Union Congress-Goa has urged the State government to pay `15,000 per month to all the mine workers who stand to lose their jobs due to closure of mining activities in the state. “If the mining workers face termination/retrenchment, the question of their unemployment, livelihood and existence of their families are serious matters which the state government should be concerned about,” AITUC said in its memorandum presented to Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant. According to the trade union, a number of mining lease-holding companies have already told workers that their services would be terminated due to the recent government order. The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUCGoa), in its memorandum to chief minister, has sought immediate resumption of mining operations in the state
Mining Companies move High Court to challenge Govt order to vacate leases
Chowgule & Co Ltd., Sesa Mining Corporation Ltd., and Fomento (Lithoferro) have petitioned the High Court by challenging the order issued by the state government asking mining companies to vacate the 88 mining leases before June 6. The DMG had said that the Apex Court in 2018, while quashing the second renewals, had granted a period of six months to all lessees to carry out transportation of minerals. The DMG had made it clear that the Supreme Court in 2020 had granted time up to the end of January 2021 for the removal of minerals excavated/mined on or before March 15, 2018, subject to the payment of royalties and other charges
in a scientific and sustainable manner. The trade union has also appealed to the state government to allocate funds to ensure the payment of `15,000 per month to all the mining workers who stand to lose their jobs. AITUC said that even though the chief minister had assured that the iron ore mining would be started by state-owned mining corporations soon; there has been no development in the matter till date. In the event of fresh auctions, AITUC has asked the government to ensure that the new leaseholders allow the existing mining workers to continue with their employment at their last drawn salaries and services. With the monsoon around the corner, several empty mining pits will be filled with rainwater and rigorous efforts will be required to pump out water. Hence, the trade
union has suggested that the existing facilities available with erstwhile mining leaseholders be utilised to avoid any kind of natural calamity or a flood-like situation in villages, it said. The trade union has also asked the government to come up with a ‘retrenched mining workers’ scheme in line with the Goa Labour Welfare Board Scheme for the benefit of retrenched workers and those who lost their jobs after the 2018 order of the Supreme Court. The trade union has said that state-owned mining corporations should carry out all mining operations, including exports, with the existing pool of skilled and experienced workers and engage other stakeholders such as truckers and barge operators with the available infrastructure to ensure that mining operations pick up quickly, providing the much-needed relief to the families dependent on mining in Goa
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FOCUS GOA / REFORMS
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Ease of Doing Business in Goa: How to improve Business School and Fomento, in their panel discussion with stakeholders of our ranking? Goa different industries, discuss and deliberate ways to take Goa ahead on the EODB index In the State W Budget 20-21, the hy is it necessary to enhance Ease of Doing Business in Goa? Goa is one of the least populated, literate states and has the highest per capita net state domestic product (NSDP) in the country. Apart from being one of the most sought after tourist destinations, Goa also has the highest industrial estate per million in India. But the state has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country with a constant decline in the EoDB index, when, on the other hand, India is climbing steadily in the international sphere. To solve this problem it is necessary that all the stakeholders like government, industry, educational institutions, financial institutions and society at large work cohesively to help Goa rise to the top of the ladder, as the most sought after business destination in the country. Goa Business School in association with Fomento, held a panel discussion with stakeholders of different industries in Goa as panelists to discuss, deliberate and brainstorm in order to draw up a holistic roadmap for the stakeholders to take Goa ahead. Introduction In the recently announced Ease of Doing Business Index, Goa faced a rude shock of slipping down to the 24th position from 19th position. Goa is a state with the best law and order situation in the country, which is again one of the most important prerequisite for having a conducive business environment. Goa is also a leading state on Human Development Index (HDI) in the country. In spite of having the most conducive factors to do business, Goa is steadily slipping down on the ease of doing business rankings. Goa is a fast-growing state with financial problems, with one
L to R: Ralph de Sousa (GCCI), Nilesh Shah (TTAG), Damodar Kochkar (GSIA), Nilesh Borde (Goa Business School) techpreneur Prajyot Mainkar and Swetika Sachan (Goa Investment Promotion & Facilitation Board)
of the highest per capita debt burden, local entrepreneurs are finding it increasingly hard to do business in Goa. Goa is a state with the highest literacy in the entire country which means Goa has the potential to offer to the industry skilled and educated labour, which is the need of the hour.
Quality of Life in Goa Goa has a low population, high literacy rate, high digital penetration, high per capita usage of internet and smartphones, high per capita NSDP, very small population below the poverty line, very less crime rate, and a high number of industrial estates and high human development index. This enables the residents of Goa to enjoy a good quality of life. ‘Will this quality of life sustain for future generations?’ this is the question that requires an urgent response. The high unemployment rate and lower index of ease of doing business, coupled together may lead to the decline of the state’s economy. Further, the high debt burdens accentuate the desolation. The primary requirement for any government is to have a balance sheet wherein the key constituents are balanced. In case the government doesn’t have this, then the ease of doing business is very difficult to achieve. Goa’s balance sheet is in a ‘shambolic state’ and it was because they have been borrowing at a high-interest
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rate. Currently, the interest rate has touched 9%. In the State Budget speech 20-21, the estimates state that out of every rupee earned, approximately 36.9 percent goes towards salaries, and wages, whereas 12.7 percent goes towards debt servicing. After considering other such committed expenditures, only 28.5 percent remains for developmental works and maintenance of existing infrastructure. The implications could be that today’s younger generation is only interested in acquiring government jobs, the entrepreneurship spirit is lost and hence the industry then has to import labour and in turn gets critiqued for. To further aggravate this condition, the mining industry in Goa has stopped, leading to a precarious financial and social strife. How Does Ease of Doing Business benefit the Government? 1. Ease of doing business attracts businesses, attracts industries thus bringing prosperity to the state. 2. Ease of doing business creates revenue for the Government with which the Government functions. 3. Ease of doing business creates employment in the state. 4. A striking example of attracting a particular sector has been the pharmaceutical sector, where certain incentives were given for a short period that helped them to establish their
estimates state that approximately 36.9 percent goes towards salaries; 12.7 percent goes towards debt servicing; and only 28.5 percent remains for developmental works
footprints in Goa. Currently, the organic expansion and growth of this sector is contributing to the state and nation at large. It is also contributing to the exports. Causes for drop in the ranking of Ease of Doing Business 1. One of the major reasons for Goa’s rank slipping down from 19 to 24 on the parameters of EoDB is the drastic change in the evaluation criteria. Earlier they accounted for the number of points based on actual implementation and provide corroborative evidence. However recently end-user feedback is also an essential part of the evaluation methodology. 2. A weak end-user feedback further emphasises that there is scant ease of doing business in Goa. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand had also reported completion of this reform, which was confirmed by DPIIT. Goa is not even there in this list. We are yet to comply with these reforms. Issues that need to be addressed 1. Over concretisation everywhere in Goa will lead to a loss of its natural beauty. 2. Goa has 24 industrial estates, out of which only 2 industrial estates – Verna and Pilerne are large and functional. The rest are small and medium situated in rural areas with an
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intention to create employment in those areas. However, not much growth is seen in these areas. For example, Canacona Industrial Estate is almost non-functional. 3. Many policies and schemes are being provided by the state and central government but either they are underutilised – for example, 12% of the fund for tribal welfare is currently unutilised; or the lack of information supply whereby these schemes do not reach the deserving persons. 4. High rate of unemployment coupled with a low entrepreneurship spirit within the locals’ further leads to fewer jobs generation in the state, complicating the situation of ease of doing business. 5. Co-working spaces, either shared or personal spaces are slightly expensive in Goa as compared to other states. For example, there is a very established co-working space
in Arpora that faces the same issues of clearances. 6. Any business to start in the state requires multiple department clearances and multiple licenses. Delay in these clearances and licenses leads to a loss of revenue for the state. 7. Also the tenure of these permissions and licenses is too frequent. For example ‘Shops and Establishment Act’ points out that the license needs to be renewed every year. Suggestions 1. Licenses Renewal Process should be streamlined which will reduce the time, cost, and manpower currently required by the government. For example, in the tourism industry, if one wants to start a business, then by the time one gets permission a lot of time and money is lost. 2. The government should remove the restrictions on
Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board’s (IPB) role in the upcoming reforms as given below 1. Further strengthening to provide better support to the industry; Making singlewindow an actual single window. 2. Increased synergy between IPB and GIDC for better investor experience. 3. Grievance redressal system to undergo a complete overhaul to bring accountability and transparency in the delivery of service. 4. Greater emphasis to be given on investment promotion activities to attract quality investment in the state. 5. Policy-level support in the form of investment and logistics licenses for doing business 3. The faster any business gets
permissions and licenses, the faster they can start any business and faster the prosperity can come to the state. 4. Hunt for the investors and businesses that are willing and interested to start their business in Goa. Facilitate the process to start their business by giving licenses within a week. 5. Government needs to reduce its roles and presence as much as possible and bring in professional efficiency. 6. Ease of doing business would be achieved if certain services are taken online in the application process and eliminating what is unnecessary. 7. Export strategy is the only document that lays out the important sectors. 8. The environmental sustainability and keeping Goa the way it is an important condition as currently the thrust is highly on one particular sector, that is tourism. Continued on Page 33
MAY 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 23
FOCUS GOA / TECH COMMUNITY
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Boosting the IT sector in Goa
Goa Technology Association brings the state’s eminent techpreneurs to share their ideas and vision for the industry GTA team with attendees and speakers
G
oa Technology Association organised the GTA community meet for its members, recently. Two panel discussions were held with Goa’s eminent techpreneurs who shared their inputs on how to boost Goa’s IT ecosystem. The first panel discussion was on the topic, ‘Decoding Goa’s Tech Industry’ where the panelists were DS Prashant (CEO of FiiRE), Dr. Mariappan (Advisor of AITD), Amit Tamba (CTO of Freethink), Kapil Nair (CTO of Conexao Technology Solutions) and the session was moderated by Harshvardhan Bhatkuly, Editor, Business Goa. Amit Tamba spoke on the challenges faced during covid and shifting to work from home which was a whole different ball game for them. D S Prashant said that as startups began coming to Goa, they began supporting these startups and mentioned that the Government came up with plenty of funding strategies. Kapil Nair, meanwhile, stated that they fared a lot better since they could all work from home inspite of the uncertainty. Dr V Mariappan said, “In our college we started having pedagogy of teaching students using smart boards from the beginning. We did not restrict ourselves only to the blackboard and chalk discussion. We could also easily turn our discussions into Google Classroom, where we could put all our materials
L to R: D S Prashant, Dr Mariappan, Harshvardhan Bhatkuly, Amit Tamba and Kapil Nair
and assess the students’ performance in the form of tests. The problem that we faced was that we couldn’t see the way in which the students were learning. We found a solution through an aid known as the Digital Pen. Using it, we could bring back the blackboard on the screen and all analytical issues could be done via the Digital Pen.” The Second Panel Discussion was on the Topic ‘Boosting IT Exports’ and the panelists were Ricky Norohna (Director of OPSPL), Milind Anvekar (President of GTA and VP, Open Destinations), Nilesh Nayak (Founder of Sapna Group), Milind Prabhu (CEO of Genora) and the session was moderated by Rohan Warty, Managing Director of Xerviz Wlobal. The panelists shared their IT vision and spoke about marketing strategies that they deploy for IT Exports. Speaking on the pandemic and its effects on the business Milind Anvekar said that they
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ensured that their employees were able to work from home and that there was productivity. “During this time, we launched a new product called ‘Rail Studio’ because the top rail tour operators in the world are actually using our products to manage their entire business operations and services. So we launched a separate suite of products during this time and also introduced a learning management system which helped us stay afloat. Though there were a number of lows, there were also a lot of positives for our company.” Nilesh Nayak shared his ideas on the basics required to start export in software. “You should have a business partner who is based in the country. As much as we talk about online networking, auctions, reverse auctions, the fact remains that a lot of deals happen on a face to face basis. So if you have anybody who is based in the country you want to get into it really helps. It is also a good
idea to start a networking forum in order to increase your business.” Meanwhile Milind Anvekar spoke on marketing strategies saying that it is important to stay focused. “We are only catering to the travel sector and only a particular section in that sector. We make sure that the product evolves and is robust, relevant, updated, and competitive. This helps you position yourself in the market at any given point of time. When you have a product like this, it is really easy to market.” While sharing tips and tricks on boosting the IT sector in Goa, Americo (Ricky) Noronha mentioned that as part of the GTA it is important to have a small sub-committee which can put up the skills of the GTA members and try to get business in for the members. Milind Prabhu said that it was important to support local companies. “If we have a good vibrant industry which is completely supported by the government, there will be more local talent available in Goa. Today, the IT industry needs resources. We also need to pull in skills from outside the state into Goa and have major Developer Summit Programmes in the state.” After the panel discussions, seven new members were inducted in the Goa Technology Association by GTA President, Milind Anvekar. He then addressed the gathering and highlighted the GTA plans saying, “We have already presented a road map for IT ecosystem for 2022-2023 to the Chief Minsiter and we expect that under the able leadership of the new IT Minster, Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s IT industry will be back on track’. Mangirish Salelkar, Founder President of GTA proposed the vote of thanks. The event was attended by 70 technology entrepreneurs, academicians and other IT stakeholders from the state
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STARTING YOUNG
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DIELLE PILLAY
Rhythm Divine D
Dielle Pillay highlights her journey from learning music when she was a child to opening up her own music academy
By SYBIL RODRIGUES
ielle Pillay, who first started playing the piano at the age of two, runs the Amplified Music Academy. By the age of six, she began learning the classical piano, music theory and answering exams from Trinity College of London. After completing her Bachelors of Business, she decided to join Hillsong College (Sydney) to secure a Diploma in music learning skills, to bring music/ vocal performance and song writing to a professional worldclass level. While interning with a leading music composer at Hillsong Channel, Clement Barbu, she studied and worked with Logic Pro X, Mainstage and vocal production. Dielle went on to train under vocal trainer IVA vocal coach Lara Ten Hoorn who is a celebrity vocal coach in Sydney. While studying, she got the opportunity to work with one of Sydney’s biggest music school ‘Maxx Music’, which brought in important skills like, the workings of a music school, working with children and adults from different cultures, genres and teaching techniques while working with the Australian Music Examination Board. Dielle elaborates on what got her interested in music. “I loved music as a child, my parents bought me a small toy keyboard as a christmas gift, I remember spending hours with the keyboard and eventually started playing nursery rhymes by ear, and thereafter I started piano classes. I started playing and singing at church which inspired me and I was interested to grow and learn more about music. I loved listening to the radio growing up, that opened up my music world and ear to many artists and genres of music. I would not just listen but also break down and study every instrument that I heard in the song and draw my inspiration from it.” At Amplified Music
Dielle Pillay
Academy, Dielle and her team are bringing in a new age of music lessons, music technology and innovation to launch one into their own musical journey, be it as a career path or just a hobby. “We help you to choose the best path for your musical journey and tailor-make the classes to your liking. We aim to provide high quality music classes, track your progress, meet your goals and requirements and the list goes on. We make sure to choose the best music teacher for you, someone with the right skills and qualifications, on a day and time that works best for you.” As part of the academy’s curriculum, every student has their own customised curriculum depending on what their goals in music are – for example, some want to learn music just as a hobby, answer exams, start or join a band, compose or become a song writer. “At AMA we make sure to tailor make a curriculum designed specifically for you so that you are learning music
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in a way that would directly help and add value to your musical journey. If you choose to answer exams, we help you train for the Trinity College of London exams, if your focus is to join a band, we teach you how to craft your skills to a performance level, teach you band techniques that could be used even at an international level, and if your main focus is to be a composer or songwriter, we would take you down the road of Logic Pro X/Mainstage which is a music production software. We also teach people who have no knowledge or prior experience,” adds Dielle. The academy offers instruments like the piano, electronic keyboard, guitar, drums, vocals and music theory. Dielle explains that her team comprises of teachers who have a music qualification, in form of certification, diplomas/ degrees, have prior teaching and performing experience, and have been in the music industry for a while. All the teachers are also trained in a child safety program before
they are inducted. When it comes to music, Dielle explains that growing up; she has been inspired by all kinds of genres. “Ranging from pop to rock, I find every genre of music beautifully complex in their own way, but in the last few years, while interning as a music composer at Hillsong Channel, I worked with a lot of orchestral music. I started listening to a lot of film scores for inspiration, my favourite being the Game of Thrones score by Ramin Djawad. Ólafur Arnalds and Ludovico Einaudi have been another few of my inspirations.” Dielle believes that in order to achieve anything in life, there is hard work and sacrifice involved. “I think having an end goal is very important. In the competitive world of music, it takes hard work more than talent to develop your skills, learn more, and keep yourself updated with technology. Learning music is a slow but beautiful learning process, just like everything else that is good, good things take time, but along the road it got difficult to pursue music due to studies, work commitments etc, but for me I loved music and knew I wanted to be a musician professionally, so I worked towards it, time management and learning how to balance studying and music played a big part. When I went to Hillsong College, I was exposed to a whole new world of music technology, and being a classical pianist, it was very new to me and might I add, quite intimidating, but I did not let that stop me, I eventually began loving music technology and learning more about it, I then also found a way to incorporate my classical music training into it.” When she started teaching in Sydney, Dielle explains that it was an entirely new experience teaching children from different cultures etc, but it was amazing to see how everyone’s love for music overcame cultural
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barriers, making it interactive, learning about what music is like in a different culture. It really helped propel her into a whole new teaching experience and develop her skills as a teacher. Dielle has big plans for her academy. “We want to incorporate new ideas and fun ways of teaching music, adding more instruments to our list, more branches as well. We are looking at bringing in new technology that make your traditional music class more fun, knowledgeable, practical and using equipment that is used in the music industry nationally and internationally. I am also looking at eventually executing music certification courses that are not easily available, for example, in film scoring, game music designing, composition, arranging, orchestration, recording, digital audio and post-production, recording engineer, studio work
and song writing.” Dielle signs off with a message to aspiring musicians. “Follow your dreams, if you want to be a full time or part time musician, work hard towards it; don’t give up on your dream just because it might seem like a long and narrow road. The world of music is very competitive and you will always find someone who you think is better and more talented than you; but remember that you bring something unique to the table that no one else can. You need to find what that is and grow and develop it. As Goans, we are born with music in our blood and our State has some of the best musicians there is music in all of us, it is up to us if we want to just let it waste away or if we want to let it grow into something beautiful. Nothing is impossible, you might surprise yourself with how talented you are, do what makes you happy and dream big”
MAY 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 27
INTERVIEW
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NILESH SHAH | PRESIDENT, TRAVEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION OF GOA
“Goa has everything for everyone”
Business Goa catches up with Nilesh Shah, who has been elected as President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa for a second term and finds out about his plans for ‘Brand Goa’ About TTAG TTAG is one of the oldest travel and tourism body in Goa which started in 1977. Initially, it started out as a travelling and tourism club and later when charters started coming up and tourism began increasing, somewhere in 1996-97, it became an association. The main objective is to resolve challenges faced by the industry, to have a link between the government and industry and overall keep a check on whether the industry is going in the right direction; with a proper positioning in the domestic and international market. Elaborate on your experience in the tourism sector over the years. As an entrepreneur I have been in the tourism business for 30 years. I have seen the rise of domestic carriers in India. In 1991, I entered the business which was a time where domestic airlines had just begun. The boom in the charter business began post 90s. It has been quite a good experience in the sense that I have seen the industry grow by leaps and bounds every year. A number of people have entered the industry and are flourishing. Overall, Goa is now the most preferred party destination in the country. So far, it has been an amazing journey to be a part of this industry and see it grow and flourish over the years. What is your primary focus for TTAG during your second term as President? When I took over the main focus was on restarting and rebooting the industry. I took over when the industry was closed somewhere in May 2020 and the first wave of covid was at its peak. Once things subsided, unlocking was a key area to focus on and remove the hurdles in the way of Ease of Doing Business. I would like
Nilesh Shah
to highlight a few things here. With the co-operation of the members, the government and of course, the bureaucracy we are able to do better on EoDB. We now have a five years tourism license, for the tourism industry; fire and excise licence for those in this industry. There used to be many hurdles while applying for excise licence which have been taken care of. Secondly, when Goa opened up, the industry followed all the protocols laid down by the government. This helped the industry in a big way. Now in my second term, the main focus is to continue keeping track on the Ease of Doing Business, as far as the tourism industry is concerned. We have something for everyone in Goa. The rebranding of Goa’s image needs to be looked into seriously. As far as events and various other programs are concerned, there are a lot of hurdles in Goa which we need to streamline. All of these permissions and licenses needs to be available in one place and
28 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
we are working continuously with the Government in this regard. Also, there are all kinds of tourists coming into the State. Much as we have lost a few markets, it is usually the smaller hotels that depends on charters and the domestic crowds as well. We have to make a pitch to attract the German, Polish, and Finnish crowd to Goa. The UK market is very keen to come to Goa, but the hurdles they face is on the e-visas. Our request to the Ministry of External Affairs will be to grant e-visas for tourists coming to Goa from the UK. We want to work with the Government for participating in different marts be they domestic or international, which attracts tourists into Goa. Unless we market ourselves properly we will not get the right kind of crowd. Our focus for the next two years will be to see that Goa regains its international market, regain markets we have lost and attract newer markets. Who forms a part of your team and
what strengths do they bring to the table? We have the Director of Tourism, the Managing Director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), and the Principal of Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) who forms part of our team and they bring in their years of experience with them. We can address the challenges that we face on a daily basis through them when we assemble for our monthly meetings. We have one vice president for North Goa, Jack Sukhija and Guitry Velho as our vice president for South Goa, making it easier for these two to address issues faced by the two districts of the state. In addition to these two, we have a secretary, Aakash Madgavkar and treasurer, Shekhar Divadkar. When we nominate members we see that people from different industry verticals are a part of our board which helps to resolve the challenges faced by each vertical of the industry. We also have Ernest Dias who is a COO of SITA and TCI, which is the largest inbound charter operator in Goa. We have Vincent Ramos, Area Director of IHCL Goa, Aakash Madgavkar who represents water sports activities, Francisco Branganza our Past President, a lawyer and entrepreneur, owning three and five star hotels in the State, Rajesh Salgaonkar and Sairaj Dhond both of whom represent smaller boutique hotels. In short, we have all the segments of the industry on our board which helps in having proper dynamics within the TTAG body. After three covid waves what is your outlook for the tourism industry? Domestic tourism has grown and many five start hotels have recorded big profits. The casino business is doing very well, water sports has picked up,
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The newly elected committee of TTAG pose with Tourism Minister, Rohan Khaunte at the organisation’s annual day function
but there are plenty of matters that needs to be streamlined. Adventure tourism is down due to lack of numbers and now the monsoons are around the corner. As regards international tourists, scheduled flights are allowed to come in the State. We have direct flights coming in from Qatar and Oman which has opened up new avenues for us. A few groups from Portugal have come in a few weeks backs and I feel Goa is getting back on track of attracting foreign tourists. Overall I feel the coming season will be excellent as far as international tourism is concerned while we will continue to focus on domestic tourists. I feel as long as we are able to offer the right value and overcome a few hurdles, especially the issue of transport, we can go a long way into getting back the vibrancy in the industry and attract the right kind of crowd into Goa. How is TTAG’s relation and association with the GTDC and how would you like to build bridges with them? Over the last 30 years, the President of the TTAG has been on board of the GTDC. There are six official directors in the GTDC board and we have a cordial relationship. Our focus area is that the government should be not in the business of doing business. GTDC has many resorts which were running losses. Now they are on the verge of privatisation; a move that we wholeheartedly support. They are trying to get into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) for their hotels in Goa which will bring in better revenues, better service get international
brands into the State. GTDC is also looking into getting in new tourism activities like hot air balloons, hop on hop off buses and trying to encourage entrepreneurs to finds new ways of attracting tourists. I feel the focus of the GTDC should be to encourage more private players, especially those coming up with adventure sports like bungee jumping. Our relationship with GTDC is very cordial and we try to work together wherever possible to promote Brand Goa.
If there is one common problem that locals and tourists share, it is that of the taxis. How do you plan on enforcing discipline among the taxi drivers and operators? It is high time that this issue of taxi operators is resolved. If we want tourists to become the brand ambassador of Goa, we have to ensure that their stay here is as comfortable as possible. TTAG has tried its best by filing a petition in the court for the implementation of meters. The court has agreed with our stand and have made meters compulsory for every taxi; as also installing a GPS machine. Much as meters have been fixed they are yet to be operational. The government has to be firm in their stand when dealing with the taxi drivers. We have to move with the times and digitisation is the way forward. We have Ola and Uber operating all over India and it is about time we bring in these operators. When we talk about taxi issues we have to understand it is not only the problem of the tourists but also that of the locals. If we have a proper transport system in place the locals too can avail of
it and can use taxis for their day to day travels which will reduce pollution and traffic. It will be easier for people to travel at night especially those who do not have a vehicle of their own. There has to be competition in this business, the way of carrying on the taxi business should be changed, and there has to be a change in the mindset of the people. The government has to be very firm when dealing with this matter and our politicians have to understand that they cannot have their way all the time. The locals will benefit from the services of operators like Ola and Uber. Besides looking at the benefits of the players in the industry, they also have to see how the locals benefit. Taxi drivers should have a proper system in place and be more reasonable without overcharging and putting pressure on the customer. The narrative that Goa’s tourism is sinful (casino) is peddled openly by the stakeholders. How do you see this playing on the sheen of Brand Goa in the long run? Casinos are one of the verticals of the tourism industry whether we like it or no. Secondly, casinos brings in revenue which the government requires almost to a tune of 450 to 500 crores in the form of fixed revenue and around 400 crores in the form of GST. In addition to this, they employ almost 20 to 25 thousand people. Also, locals have spare flats and houses which they have given on rent to these casino companies to house their staff. The economy has evolved around the casinos. We do require checks and
balances wherein the locals are not allowed entry to the casinos. The government should look into any illegalities taking place on these casinos and keep a lookout for any areas that comes under their power. If the government does their job properly, this industry can help generate revenue to the government and it will help the economy by creating employment opportunities be it for the taxi drivers, hoteliers, retailers, bike operators, and suppliers – most of whom are locals. What initiatives are your members, the stakeholders of the tourism business, been taking to bring in a change that TTAG is hoping for? When we were re-opening up the industry, we were very clear on following the covid norms which were required to be followed as the safety of not only the tourist was important to us, but that of our locals working in various capacities as well. As far as water sports are concerned the safety angle has to be looked into with a very critical eye. Also we have to market Goa as a family destination where every type of tourist is welcome. We are trying to focus on making Goa safer especially now that we have to live with covid. We have learnt to run our business around covid given that there will be more waves of this virus. Secondly, there are a lot of new entrepreneurs in the market with different concepts of experiential tourism which is a new term for us. Nowadays people don’t only want to visit Goa, but they want to experience Goa. Heritage walks have taken centre stage in Goa and everyone wants to experience the state in its glory. We, as part of the TTAG, have to attract tourists to Goa and this is one aspect which will add to our uniqueness. The new services which our Government is trying to introduce, has to be monitored closely because if it’s not marketed properly, it will not succeed. Ultimately we want repeat quality tourists coming in
MAY 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 29
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uying eyewear is a serious investment in one’s wellbeing. Even though 76% of spectacle buyers visit their opticians, today, more and more customers choose to go online to research their options before deciding on their best pair. With the growing digital wave, opticians have a long way to go before they are ready to engage with customers online. This is where Spexmojo. com plays an important role. Spexmojo.com is an eyewear discovery platform offering the widest range, best quality and fashionable frames in the market for customers. Here they get to select frames and book an appointment with nearby opticians; try, buy and get the best fit at the optician store. Why Spexmojo is different Opticians are seen as highlyrespected professionals. And now because of online buying, slowly they are losing their importance due to scarce digital
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presence. Opticians are very important in spectacle disbursement since prescription eye concerns need to be addressed in person. Spectacles are essential accessories that make up two parts – frames and lenses; but slowly emphasis on quality, correctness and fitment is being replaced by fashion, discount and ease, commoditising spectacles. Spexmojo wants to empower and bring back the important role of brickand-mortar opticians by providing them a digital platform, a simplified supply chain, inventory support and digital enablement to become available to customers in the online space. The intent is to encourage personalised optical care since it is the correct method of disbursing spectacles for prescription eyewear. Helping Opticians Bridge the gap Spexmojo offers a solution by taking care of some of the most difficult business concerns that
traditional opticians face for a faster transaction between them and the buyer. “Our vision is to
“Spectacles are clinical, require a prescription, fitment support and is a highly personalized trade, which is why the fulfilment is always efficiently done in an offline store”
Shivkumar Janardhanan Founder and Director, Spexmojo Technologies
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“The idea that Spexmojo is implementing will revolutionise the optical industry in many ways, from sourcing quality products to dispensing the choice of the consumers in a no-compromise purchase journey”
Shobit Gupta
Founder and Director, Spexmojo Technologies
see that customers have greater faith in their neighbourhood expert opticians who can now offer their products online for discovery and do the fulfillment offline,” says Mahendra Kumar Gupta, Chairman, Spexmojo Technologies. Here is a look at some of the key benefits for the opticians Digital discovery and visibility: Spexmojo helps opticians go digital and become searchable by their consumers. Stock/inventory digitization: Assets like frames will be adapted to the digital platform with the help of the latest technology. The digitized frames will be shot from different angles for a holistic
view. Opticians will get to select the models that they would want to showcase on the platform. Premium frames from Berg, Miyama and Leon – these frames are inspired by German, Japanese and Italian designs that are currently trending. They are made from premium and high-quality material, with patented technologies. Subscription plans / supply chain support: The opticians coming on board get optimised supply chains for Berg, Miyama and Leon frames, solving any residual dead stock issues. The optician partner can choose from 3 different subscription plans. Market insights: Opticians get useful insights on trending frame designs in the locality and engagement tips on connecting with customers better. Marketing support: Through in-store branding, aggressive advertising, with an opportunity to participate in campaigns to ensure better customer footfall at stores.
“We feel that this offer allows the customer, to not compromise on what his spectacle has to be. He has access to everything and is not constrained on budget”
Neeraj Gupta
Founder and Director, Spexmojo Technologies
A platform for new-age customers: Spexmojo is changing the game and lifting the veil of secrecy behind spectacles. From providing transparency into the material, quality and pricing to access to the inventory of spectacles at an optician, customers get all the information needed to
make an informed decision. Spexmojo is also making sure that customers get the right solution by encouraging them to meet their opticians for a personalised fit which is better in the long run. “Spectacles are clinical, require a prescription, fitment support and is a highly personalised trade, which is why the fulfillment is always efficiently done in an offline store,” says Shivkumar Janardhanan, Founder and Director, Spexmojo Technologies.
Premium frames from Berg, Miyama and Leon – these frames are inspired by German, Japanese and Italian designs that are currently trending
What makes Spexmojo even more unique is that it isn’t an e-commerce platform. Rather a discovery platform helping customers find frames near them faster. Through this platform, buyers can discover trendy spectacles from Spexmojo.com with the
YOPO (You Only Pay for One) offer on all frames and lenses! They can do this in three easy steps: Explore it: Check out frames from a wide range of styles available in their neighbourhood expert optician stores. YOPO it: Select the spectacle and pay for only one - frame or lenses and get a better spectacle with the YOPO offer. Experience it: Book an appointment with an expert optician nearby. Touch, feel and try the frame at the store for accurate fitment and complete the purchase, hassle-free. “We feel that this offer allows the customer, to not compromise on what his spectacle has to be. He has access to everything and is not constrained on budget” says Neeraj Gupta, Founder and Director, Spexmojo Technologies. For lenses, customers get the best choice in a Premium Kodak lens that come with premium features like UV and blue light protection, anti-glare coating and more as standard features. Customers also automatically avail of the offer once they register and book an appointment online and can also ask for the same at the store. Shobit Gupta, Founder and Director, Spexmojo Technologies, says, “The idea that Spexmojo is implementing will revolutionise the optical industry in many ways, from sourcing quality products to dispensing the choice of the consumers in a no-compromise purchase journey. By doing this we ensure to work towards a future that is in favour of opticians and Spexmojo as partners.” Visit spexmojo.com and see the difference
MAY 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 31
CAMPUS
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V.M. SALGAOCAR MEMORIAL NATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION 2022 Prof Dr Aamod Shirali speaks at the event
L to R: Dr. Kim Couto, Dr. Mrunmayi Vaidya, Anant Nagi, Jaspal Singh, (DGP Govt. of Goa), Dr. Shaber Ali G (Principal V M Salgaocar College of Law), Dr. Aamod Shirali and D.P. Pednekar at the inaugural of the event
The V.M. Salgaocar Memorial National Moot Court Competition 2022 was officially declared open on 22nd April; and was held at the V. M. Salgaocar College of Law. The event was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Guest, Jaspal Singh, Director General of Police, Government of Goa. The event took place over three days from 22nd to 24th April through the virtual mode. A total of 14 Law Colleges from across India competed
for the prestigious competition through five rounds spread over two days. A total of 29 advocates from Goa, judged the event. The winners were Christ Academy Institute of Law, Bengaluru, while Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law were adjudged Runners-Up. The ‘Best Advocate Award’ was bagged by Nayama Smith Joseph of Christ Academy Institute of Law, Bengaluru and the Late. Adv. Julius T.
Nayak ‘Best Memorial Award’ was bagged by Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P. The Late. Adv. Julius T. Nayak Best Memorial Award was sponsored by Business Goa magazine. The Final round was held on 24th April and was presided over by Senior Adv. Saresh Lotlikar along with Senior Advocate Ramchandra Ramani and Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho. The Valedictory function was presided over by
Sr Advocate Saresh Lotlikar. The program was coordinated by Faculty coordinator Dr. Mrunmayi M. Vaidya and co-coordinator Dr. Aamod Shirali, Director Moot Court Society and the Student Coordinator Anant Nagi. The event was conducted with the involvement of the faculty and 60 student volunteers. The program was compèred for both days by Diya Kamat, Ishan Kenkre, Dimple Purohit and Raj Chodankar
Four teams from GIM make it to the finals of Aim2Flourish 2022 Making their mark, four student teams from Goa Institute of Management (GIM) have made it to the finals of Aim2Flourish among 685 participants from around the globe. AIM2Flourish is an initiative of the Cleveland, Ohio-based Fowler Center for Business as an agent of world benefit at the Weatherhead School of Management-Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Divya Singal, Chairperson, Centre for Social Sensitivity and Action, GIM, expressed her thoughts and said, “Four stories written by our students have made it to the finalist’s list, our students have made a mark this year as well, Last year in 2021, five stories from GIM reached the finals and one story on Jaipur Rugs won the Flourish Prize 2021 for SDG 8”.
The four student teams put up stellar stories on pressing matters at hand that are of concern to the globe and in their stories they have come up with unique and ingenious innovations. One team’s story was ‘Every Drop Counts’ and they tackled the issue of water sanitation, the second story was ‘The Sustainable Bricks’ and covered various SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) which have the element of sustainability, another team’s story was ‘Avani Earthcraft’ which revolves around empowerment through innovation and its product was ethical and sustainable clothing, the fourth team’s story ‘Mitti Cool’ was about moulding lives with eco-friendly innovations and was an eye-opener to how business are heading towards
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the vision of a greener and a healthier planet. Speaking about their experience, the student team of Sustainable Bricks said, “Aim2flourish has been an eye-opener for our team. From understanding the U.N goals to finding a story that was worth featuring, every step has brought in key learning for all of us. We started with the dream of making it to the finals and we believe that with proper guidance, good intent, and hard work anything can be achieved.” The B-school has collaborated with Aim2Flourish which is the world’s first higher education program that combines the UN global goals for sustainable development and business as an agent of world benefit. Using the UN Global Goals as their lens the students had to research and identify a
positive business innovation and conduct an appreciative inquiry type of interview about it and prove their mettle among 685 innovative entries received from all corners of the world. Entries opened in 2021 for the Flourish Prizes, 2022. The 2022 Flourish Prizes finalists include 84 stories from 31 universities in 20 countries under the guidance of 41 different professors. The businesses profiled came from 28 countries and more than 18 industries. Each year AIM2Flourish awards the 17 Flourish Prizes, one for each of the 17 Global Goals, to stories written during the previous calendar year. Last year in 2021, five stories from GIM reached the finals and one story on Jaipur Rugs won the Flourish Prize 2021
BOOKSHELF
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AUTHOR: SHIV SHIVKUMAR PUBLISHER: PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE INDIA PVT. LTD
The Art of Management
Managing Yourself, Managing Your Team, Managing Your Business
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areers are changing, and the capabilities required to stay relevant are changing even more rapidly. We seem to have endless choices, at least at the beginning of a career, but these start narrowing after middle management. How does one think about one’s own life and career in this changing decade? The whole discipline of career management now has three elements to it: Managing yourself; Managing your team; and Managing your business In this book, Shiv Shivakumar points out that today, unlike in the past, all the three elements are your responsibility. With in-depth interviews with top leaders across the spectrum and an insightful foreword by Sachin Tendulkar, The Art of Management is a must-read.
Shiv Shivakumar
Continued from Page 23
9. The government should take a strategic viewpoint on what kind of industries should be invited to invest in Goa. 10. The industry needs its freedom and power to function rather than getting pressurized by the Government boards. 11. Utilise the existing estates to its fullest manner instead of establishing new industrial estates. 12. Six roles of the government which are that of operator, infrastructure provision, stimulator promoter, regulator, coordinator and educator should be utilised to its fullest. 13. All the stakeholders should come together in a participative manner way to work towards
Shiv Shivakumar, or Shiv as he is popularly known, is one of India’s longest serving CEOs. He is currently the group executive president at Aditya Birla Group. He has worked across multiple industries and categories, and has handled over sixty brands in his career. He was CEO for Nokia in India and subsequently led the company’s emerging markets unit; he was also chairman and CEO for PepsiCo South Asia. He is regarded as one of India’s leading management and leadership thinkers and speakers the ease of doing business. 14. Education plays a very important role in the industry. There is disconnect between what industry wants and the teaching that happens. 15. The people in the vicinity to decide what kind of tourism they want in that area and the government should provide the infrastructure required. 16. A lot of people want their second home in Goa and some restrictions need to be imposed otherwise it will affect the tourism industry. 17. App-based taxi is the way forward and competition will bring solution to this problem. 18. An excise license and a tourism license for 5 years
MAY 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 33
TECHNOLOGY
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Making Goa Tourism Tech centric
Forum of Incubation, Innovation, Research & Entrepreneurship (FiiRE) elaborates on their objective of reviving the tourism industry in Goa
First Goa Tourism Accelerator Cohort
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ith a population of 15 lakhs, Goa has nearly 80 lakh tourists visiting the state every year. And this being the case, tourism in Goa was obviously one of the worst hit sectors during the recent global pandemic. FiiRE (Forum of Incubation, Innovation, Research & Entrepreneurship), an incubator based out of the Don Bosco Engineering College Campus, Fatorda, Goa, has been incubating product and manufacturing based startups since 2018. Post-pandemic they shifted their focus to Tourism Tech, with the objective of supporting a global need to revive the tourism industry. At the First Incredible India International Cruise Conference organised by Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in Mumbai, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that the aim is to make Goa a tourism tech destination. With the vision of making Goa the world’s top destinations for Tourism Tech startups by 2030, FiiRE, COO, Thejus Joseph believes that the first Goa Tourism Accelerator, a 16-week programme which was initiated in September 2021, is just the first step towards identifying and nurturing entrepreneurs who have innovative solutions to solve current tourism-related challenges. “Right now, it is our prerogative to build visibility, so that the right startups reach out to us – tech innovators
Thejus Joseph
should know that we are here to specially guide and mentor their technology-based answers to national and even global challenge areas, so that the tourism industry has solutions” Thejus added. The focus areas of travel and hospitality, smart cities, mobility, cleantech, mediatech, waste management are all areas which will help enhance the travel experience for tourists, suppliers as well as the environment. With the right partnerships in place – with government, academia as well as other eco-system enablers, FiiRE is geared to making Tourism Tech a strong startup sector. The role of mentors is invaluable to any startup in early as well as late stages of their business growth. Their industry exposure and experience serve to cushion some of the common pitfalls that startups could face at various stages. “Proof-of-concept testing is critical when a startup comes to us with a viable idea that
34 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
can help uplift vital segments of the tourism-industry” said D S Prashant, CEO, FiiRE. “For example, at the first Goa Tourism Accelerator Cohort, we identified REVIO as one of the startups to accelerate. REVIO is a revenue management company with advanced dynamic pricing technology, which strives to challenge the status quo in the hotel industry. With creative software and strategies, they turn around hotels and reposition them to outperform their competitors and become local market leaders.” Another startup, TRAVSTACK, is a travel operating system that provides powerful SaaS tools to tour operators, travel agents and other travel businesses. Their product suite includes smart itinerary builder, online travel store with CMS, travel planning and a travel CRM with dashboard. Their solutions help travel professionals improve their turnaround time, boost brand identity and customer engagement. Offbeat is an experiential travel company that promotes sustainable and immersive travel across India. They provide customers a unique perspective about travel to a destination with a wholly immersive travel experience, exploring local life and culture. They firmly believe that Indian villages are a huge repository of experiences for the immersive millennial traveller, and want to curate unique travel
experiences across villages in India and make them the next sought after tourist destination. It is interesting to note that TourismTech has a wide scope and the startups have identified areas that have applicability across various areas. Srishti Lifescience Private Limited, for e.g. has a made it their mission to create an eco-system of sustainable/eco-friendly, hygiene-assured, and healthy (enhanced) bottled water, at affordable pricing. They also empower the consumers to shift their choices, from singleuse plastics to zero-waste packaging. The other startups that emerged from the first cohort are: Digitour, (Auxbrains Ventures Pvt Ltd) Momingly, Zodhya, Tyndis, Campper, Highway Delite, Instio, hav.life, Lokaso Media and10Times Each of these startups have unique ideas and business models that contribute in some manner, to ease the experience for either tourists, suppliers or the ecology of the area. These startup entrepreneurs have emerged from a focused search, with specific criteria put in place, so that FiiRE can help accelerate their progress with the support of organisations like Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, Goa Technology Association, Goa Tourism Department and others. Similarly with support from corporates, they are able to provide startups with: mentorship on go-tomarket strategies; piloting opportunities with government, access to investor network and proof-of-concept opportunities with partners. Delivering programs to support entrepreneurs who are reshaping tourism for travellers, suppliers, and the environment, remains FiiRE’s core focus area over the next few years. They look ahead to forging strong collaborations with the tourism ecosystem to ensure the most potent combination of network, knowledge and funding to the startups that they choose to accelerate in the Tourism Tech space
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SHREYA ROHIR NAIK
An Adventure Like No Other
Shreya Rohir Naik is the director of Traveldeck, a travel agency that promises its clients adventures and experiences like never before
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By SWETA SHARMA
hreya Rohir Naik, hailing from Goa Velha, has recently started a tours and travel agency, Traveldeck in Ponda, Goa. Creating fascinating tours around the world, her company aims to provide the best experience possible with their carefully curated destinations and activities. A graduate from Don Bosco College, Shreya pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Applications. After attaining the degree, she went on to teach a course that focused on the fundamentals of computers in Panjim. Shreya started overlooking operations at Coderix Solutions LLP, a leading digital marketing and web designing company in Goa, after her marriage to Rohir Naik. Later, she started managing travel related enquiries of Golden Goa, a local travel website which gives out vast information about Goan culture, cuisine, and some of the unexplored landscapes of Goa. It was at Golden Goa that Shreya’s interest for business in the tour and travel industry was piqued. While managing and creating multiple travel packages for the tourists who visited Goa, Shreya simultaneously enrolled in various online courses that gave her an in-depth knowledge about the industry. She was also able to work on some travel destinations outside Goa. As time passed by, Shreya began working on individual projects from home. She started taking up orders and created one of a kind tours and itineraries that charmed all her customers. Her solo stint as a travel agent helped her establish a network with many other travel agencies. Thus, with a solid experience and knowledge of the tours and travels industry,
Shreya Rohir Naik
Shreya wanted to launch her very own travel agency in Ponda. However, with the advent of the Covid pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns imposed by the government, her plans were delayed. When asked about the covid situation, she says, “The pandemic most certainly postponed my plans. Nevertheless, in the postpandemic era when the entire world is accessible again, I decided to set up my own office in Ponda. It would have not been possible without the support of my husband, parents, and inlaws who helped turn my long time dream into a reality.” Every new enterprise faces a tough moment or two but these problems should be overcome with the right solutions at the right time. Similarly, Shreya’s company saw zero business during the time of the pandemic. Traveldeck succeeded in getting over the problem and sustaining business by engaging its old
36 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
customers and shouting out to acquire new ones through various social media platforms. Considering the fierce rivalry in the tourism industry in Goa, Traveldeck is an agency that gives its patrons a unique experience in a bid to stay ahead of the competition. According to Shreya, “A good competitor always teaches you new things and you’re almost forced to experiment in order to stay in business. Adding a touch of personality to the business, our target is not only the local market but also the whole world. If you look at your competitors as friends and collaborate with them, you will see a positive growth in your business.” Shreya is constantly inspired by the beautiful stories and adventures undertaken by her customers during their travels. Generating new ideas for travel packages through the pointers and feedbacks given to her by the travellers, Shreya
ensures that every customer gets a tailor-made package well suited to their needs. Trust, reliability and good customer service are the main principles followed by Shreya to build successful customer relations. She makes sure that every customer gets a good and reliable service during their travel. By harnessing their clients’ positivity, the enterprise seeks to create a strong relationship with the customers while gaining their trust. As a step in this direction, Traveldeck plans to launch an online booking platform in the future which will facilitate easier transactions and bookings consequently attracting potential customers. Defining success as the ability to adequately fulfill one’s role in a team, Shreya trusts herself on her capabilities to achieve her goals. She works towards completing her individual duties as effectively as possible in an effort to provide the best possible services to all of her customers. Shreya successfully manages the employees at Traveldeck who are well equipped with abilities to engage existing and potential clients while suggesting the best plans that will give them a memorable travel experience. As a parting advice to many budding entrepreneurs and startups, Shreya says, “The initial phase of establishing any business is tough. In addition, it is also the most critical stage. So the most important factor that decides success is the willpower one has to overcome any hurdles or troubles that come your way by thoroughly studying the current trends in the market. Building the right business strategy, correctly managing your staff, collaborating with your competitors, and providing good service to your clients is the ultimate winning formula for a successful enterprise”
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Kineco Kaman delivers the first Composite Equipment Bay Shroud (EBS) Assembly for ISRO’s GSLV MARK-III Launch Vehicle Kineco Kaman Composites India Pvt Ltd (Kineco Kaman) completed its first commercial delivery of Composite Equipment Bay Shroud (EBS) Assembly to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a division of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Kineco Kaman is India’s first private company to have successfully supplied the Composite Assembly for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III. Four (4) more EBS is scheduled to be delivered by December 2023. On this accomplishment, Shekhar Sardessai, Founder of Kineco Group and Chairman and Managing Director of Kineco Kaman commented “It is an important milestone for the company; we are extremely jubilant and proud to be a part of ISRO’s GSLV Mark-III program and contribute towards India’s self-reliance in space technologies. We are pleased to meet the expectations of ISRO/ VSSC and to have fulfilled the trust placed by them when they
Shekhar Sardessai, Founder of Kineco Group and Chairman & Managing Director of Kineco Kaman flags off the milestone delivery
decided to outsource VSSC entrusted this critical activity to this responsibility to the private sector. We Kineco Kaman taking are hopeful that this into consideration milestone achieved its legacy of proven by Kineco Kaman performance will pave the way for and expertise in more opportunities industrialisation of and help in overall complex composite development of assemblies. Over the Shekhar Sardessai space capabilities last eighteen months, in India’s private sector in line VSSC and Kineco Kaman with the Hon. Prime Minister’s teams have worked alongside vision.” to align the competencies As part of its commitment to manufacture this critical to promote private sector assembly for the launch vehicle. participation in developing EBS Assembly is a complex space capabilities in India, and critical 4m diameter CFRP VSSC had decided to outsource hat-stiffened structure that this critical assembly. houses sensitive equipment
of the GSLV. The composite segments are fabricated using carbon fiber prepreg and aluminum core material which is cured using an Autoclave and are then assembled using various titanium and aluminum hardware to tight tolerances. Kineco Kaman’s credentials in providing high-quality, costeffective composite solutions with superior service and ontime delivery for the aerospace and defense sector have further been enhanced with this successful industrialisation of EBS assembly for the space sector. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is a major space research center of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), focusing on rocket and space vehicles for India’s satellite program. Located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, VSSC is an entirely indigenous facility working on the development of sounding rockets, the Rohini and Menaka launchers, and SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk III families of launch vehicles
UMANG SOFTWARE SETS UP ITS NEW OVERSEAS OFFICE IN MELBOURNE, AUS
After a year of opening up its first overseas office in Silicon Valley, Umang Software Technologies has achieved yet another milestone of setting up its second international office in Melbourne, Australia Umang Software Technologies Pvt Ltd is an IT company headquartered in Goa, India. The company focuses on foreign IT contracts and is also one of the first companies from Goa to be part of NASSCOM - India’s largest technology trade association and advocacy group. Mangirish Salelkar started this company in a small office in 2009, along with his co-founder and wife Uma Talaulikar. The word ‘UMANG’ beautifully derives from this husband and wife duo, Uma and Mangirish, which means ‘Enthusiam’.
Mangirish Salelkar
Oscar Rodrigues, VP of Business Development says that “We already have clients in Australia. It has been a great experience to work with these elite organisations that understand processes, trust Indian programmers and value our efforts.” UMANG has worked on numerous projects in its 12 years of journey. They
38 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
deal in IT projects from healthcare, logistics, marine, pharmaceutical, construction, and many others. They are best known for their expertise in Desktop, Web, and Mobile Application development. On setting up an office in Melbourne, Mangirish said “UMANG has served clients in more than 15 countries in the last 12 years. We have been
working with Australian clients for over eight years, and trust and confidence have been the major factor in the success of our business relationship with them. Having our station in Melbourne would surely help us build even stronger relationships with our clients.” “As we expand our presence to widen the client base, we are also focusing on expanding our team size. We are also looking at building a team in data science, as that is where we wish to have our next focus,” said Chief Technology Officer, Poonam Narvekar. “UMANG is going strong towards its goal of serving clients globally, as it has been doing all these years. It is only a matter of time before we see the next base opened in Europe,” adds Mangirish
BIZ BYTES IHCL ELEVATES VINCENT RAMOS AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT GOA
Vincent Ramos
After a successful tenure of spearheading the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) in Goa as the Area Director since 2017, Vincent Ramos, has been elevated to Senior Vice President – Goa. In his new role, Ramos will continue to provide strategic direction to IHCL hotels within the Goa region. With over a decade of management experience, Ramos has been instrumental in the expansion of IHCL across the state, comprising of a group of brands – Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, Ginger, amã Stays & Trails, Qmin, and TajSats. Some of the iconic properties in the IHCL, Goa portfolio include Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa and Cidade de Goa. Under the governance of
Ramos, IHCL, Goa witnessed transformative growth leading to greater profitability and market leadership in each of the relative market segments. With a footprint of 21 unique destinations and over 1500 rooms across a wide spectrum of brands, IHCL continues to define the changing landscape of tourism in Goa as the largest hospitality operator and leaders in the tourism sector. Ramos demonstrated exceptional leadership in effectively positioning IHCL’s various brands in Goa, during the pandemic. Additionally, various initiatives were carried out under his guidance in aid of those who were deeply affected across the state and in support of the healthcare workers, migrant labourers and Covid Care Centres. He has not only effectively represented IHCL but has also been the voice of the industry as a whole, within the geography. Ramos is appointed as mentor for the GCCI Committee – Tourism vertical and is a part of the Managing Committee of the TTAG as an Executive Member, as well as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Goa
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GoaFest 2022 advertising and media event
The Leo Burnett team with the creative ABBY at GoaFest 2022
The 15th edition of Goafest concluded with flair after three days of knowledge seminars, conclaves by industry experts and leaders, master classes and parties with the industry joyously cheering for the Abby One Show Award winners every evening. The highlight of the night was the Abby One Show Awards by Meta, powered by Dangal TV. A total of 32 Video Craft ABBYs, 2 Radio Craft ABBYs, 29 Branded Content ABBYs, 13 Brand Activation & Promotion ABBYs, 4 Diversity ABBYs, 17 OOH ABBYs including 1 Grand Prix, 19 Still Print and Still Craft ABBYs, 4 Still Digital ABBYs, 20 Audio Visual TV/Cinema ABBYs, 41 Audio Visual Digital ABBYs, 1 Young ABBY, 2 Red ABBYs, 11 Integrated ABBYs and 3 Green awards ABBYs were handed out to deserving winners. Speaking
about Goafest 2022, Anupriya Acharya, President, Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said, “Goafest 2022 had an electrifying start by celebrating the superpower within. It has grown to become the magnum opus event for the industry.” On awarding the ABBYs at Goafest 2022, Partha Sinha, President - The Advertising Club said, “Goafest has once again proven itself to be an extravaganza that brings together the entire media and creative fraternity.” Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2022 organising committee said, “Over the last three days, not only did we witness some of the best speakers deliver insightful and encouraging talks, we also witnessed stories of empowerment and futuristic innovation”
BLive and Rotary Club Panaji Midtown collaborate in a unique e-bike clean up drive at Divar Island In collaboration with the Rotary Club of Panjim Midtown and Isha Foundation, BLive jointly organised a plastic clean-up drive at Divar Island. Members of the Rotary Club Panjim Midtown, students from Goa University (Tourism Department) and others rode for over 20 kilometres on BLive e-bikes from Old Goa Residency to Divar Island collecting plastic and waste material in an effort to amplify the message of Save Soil. Save Soil is a global movement launched by Sadhguru to save soil from extinction, and bring the necessary policies to address the catastrophic issue facing humanity. Talking about the initiative, Sandeep Mukherjee, Co-
founder and COO at BLive said, “BLive has been a key driver of sustainability in Goa. The ‘Save Soil’ effort saw participation from various volunteers and Rotary Club members who rode electric cycles across the island of Divar and collected
40 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
plastic garbage amounting to over 50 kilos. We believe that consistent efforts need to be taken to spread awareness about sustainable mobility and saving the environment to make the planet cleaner and greener.” The clean up drive was
also joined by John Corte, a resident of Divar Island and an environmental activist whose mission is to make the island a plastic-free zone. “However irreversible the problem may seem, there is always an opportunity for the people to do their part and contribute to aiding the planet. This clean-up initiative led by BLive has made a significant effort to spread awareness about the soil problem at hand”, said John Corte. President Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown Rtn. Sunil Mone and Secretary Rtn. Sanjiv Desai also expressed their appreciation towards this unique experience driving the message of a sustainable and greener future
BIZ BYTES
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Pai Kane Group company, Power Engineering India Pvt Ltd, partners with Vertiv Energy Pvt. Ltd.
Atul and Gaurpriya Pai Kane along with Siddharth Naik of Pai Kane Group at the experiential display van of Vertiv products
Power Engineering India Pvt Ltd (PEIPL), a group company of the Pai Kane Group, has announced their exclusive partnership with Vertiv Energy Pvt Ltd. Vertiv offers critical power
infrastructure technologies and rapidly deployable, customisable solutions to meet specific business needs. It has 28 manufacturing facilities and 250+ service centers across the globe and an increasing
footprint across India with 2 manufacturing units and 40+ service centers. Vertiv’s solutions basket includes: - Power management (UPS) - Thermal management (room
and rack cooling systems) - IT infra (Rack PDUs) - EDGE solutions Headquartered in Goa since 3 decades, with sales across 66 countries, PEIPL manufactures diesel and gas generator sets, electrical switchboards, compact substations and undertakes turnkey electrical contracting. The new partnership with Vertiv enhances our ability to provide end-toend power generation and distribution solutions to critical infrastructure. PEIPL has also invested in the manufacture of most components required in the final products built by it and also supplies these components to many competing companies globally. As part of its association with Vertiv, PEIPL will offer solutions as well as post-sales Services/AMC to customers
Third edition of GCCI Business Diva Awards 2022 The Business Diva competition 2022 organised by GCCI Women’s Wing in association with FiiRE (Forum for Innovation, Incubation, and Research & Entrepreneurship) and powered by Geno Foundation was held on Saturday, 30th April, 2022. The Chief Guest at the function was Usha Ramesh, Chief Regional Manager of Goa Regional Office, NABARD and Ralph de Sousa, President, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) was the Guest of Honour. The Business Diva awards were conceptualised in 2020 and this was the third edition. There were three categories Category 1 (Start Up - less than 2 years in business), Category 2 (Scale Up - more than 2 years) and Category 3 (Self Help Groups). The purpose of organising Business Diva has been to encourage women entrepreneurs with innovative businesses to get structured incubation at FIIRE, mentored
L-R Sonali Nagvekar, Member, Women’s Wing; Deepali Naik, Director, Department of Women & Child Development; Ralph De Sousa, President, GCCI, Shital Surendra Naik, Omkar Caterers, Winner from (Category 3) Self Help Group), Usha Ramesh, Chief Regional Manager of Goa Regional Office, NABARD (Chief Guest for the Function), Pallavi Salgaocar, Chairperson, GCCI WW, Poonam Shirsat, Co-chairperson, GCCI-WW, Dr Neena Panandikar, Principal Don Bosco Technical Institute and Tejashree Pai, CEO, Chowgule Industries
by industry veterans, explore networking opportunities, and access to funding. The judges for the final event were Dr Neena Panandikar, Principal Don Bosco Technical Institute; Tejashree Pai, CEO, Chowgule Industries; D S Prashant, CEO, FiiRE; and Deepali Naik, Director, Women & Child Development. The awardees were Category 1: START UP (Less than 2 years in business) Winner: Fruits of Hard Work – Liza Vianney Pinheiro.
42 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
2. Runners up: Financial Wisdom – Manalee Vernekar. Category 2:- SCALE-UP (more that 2 years in Business) 1) Winner: Sevarat Health & Nursing Pvt Ltd - Rohini Gonsalves . 2) Runner up: Funminds Learning Tech Pvt Ltd. Category 3 : Self help groups 1) Winner: Omkar Caterers Shital Surendra Naik. 2) Runner up: Anita Arjun Gaonkar. The event was sponsored by Geno Foundation, FiiRE
(Forum for Innovation Incubation Research & Entrepreneurship) and supported by NSTEDB Division, Department of Science & Technology The event was compered by Sonali Nagvekar, Member, Women’s Wing Committee and Poonam Shirsat, proposed a vote of thanks. Also present at the Event was the Chairperson of GCCI-WW, Pallavi Salgaocar and event organiser on behalf of FiiRE, Ashlesha Noronha, Community Manager, FiiRE
EVENT
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Chief Minister heaps praises on Prime TV on its 7th Anniversary
L to R: Suresh Vadavadekar, Alisha Fernandes, Editor Prime TV Sandeep Kerkar, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Editor Dainik Herald Rajendra Desai, Parashar Pai Khot and Shreya Korgaonkar
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has praised Prime TV for creating a base for the last seven years in the state where large numbers of Goans watch this local TV channel. Dr Sawant also mentioned that after becoming chief minister, his government has backed all local electronic channels operating in the state. He was speaking at the release of Prime TV’s anniversary edition magazine in the presence of Sandeep Kerkar, Editor, Prime TV; Rajendra Desai, Editor, Dainik Herald; Parashar Pai Khot, businessman; Suresh Vadavadekar, Senior Sub-
Editor, Prime TV; and Television Producer Alisha Fernandes. The event was Prime TV’s 7th anniversary celebrated at its head office at Campal, Panaji. Speaking further, Dr Sawant said that only local channels can connect people with the government and also praised ‘Prime Lokshakti’ programme for creating awareness among voters about the functioning of the MLAs by visiting all forty constituencies of Goa, in a record time period of three months before the 2022 assembly elections. Speaking on the occasion, Sandeep
Kerkar, said that it felt special to complete the journey of 7 years. “Over the years, there have been several ups and downs that have helped build this channel with a young enthusiastic team. I feel that the channel will be successful only when it has passed on the message of the government’s functioning to the last strata of society.” Earlier, Sandeep Kerkar performed a pooja in the office premises followed by blessings from a priest and maulaná upholding the secular ideology of the channel. Later, all sections of people visited Prime TV’s office and wished
the management and staff on their milestone. Some of the guests included Minister of Sports Govind Gaude; Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte; BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade; former Deputy Chief Minister Babu Kavlekar; Goa Forward Chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai; Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo; Saligao MLA Kedar Naik; Aldona MLA Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira, among others. Prime TV has also made a significant impact through all its social media platforms, in recent times
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BEYOND CLASSROOM / DR. PRADEEP SALGAONKAR
The Customer Is Not Always Right
The writer challenges the dictum that ‘the customer is always right’ by sharing examples of high maintenance customers who suck out the thrill of doing business for some
A
young graduate, interning as part of the final dissertation work, at one the most renowned retail chains in Goa asks this question to me “Is the customer always right?” – the tried and tested adage in marketing and sales, and what we have been told time and again by our bosses and various experts in the field, that “The customer is always right” and “ Do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer” are being questioned by young minds. And yes, they may be right to a great extent, the customer need not be always right and the business will have to weigh the importance of every customer it deals with. Cited below are three anecdotes that highlight the point made above; 1) Here is a customer who buys fresh meat from a store. Ideally fresh meats are not stored for long; or if are to be kept for long, they are to be packaged and stored at appropriate temperature. This customer comes back to the store after 15 days and complains of the store selling spoiled meat to them. She says in spite of being a regular customer of the store, she is being cheated by being sold spoiled meat. She gets into argument with the Customer Service Representative (CSR). However, the CSR apologises profusely to her and asks as to when did she purchase and open the meat packet, and the customer reveals that it was opened after 12 days from the date of purchase. Besides the long period, probably the storage and temperature conditions, due to fluctuations in current, also might have added to the problem. The CSR tries to explain to the customer what must have happened, but the customer gets irrational, illogical and continues arguing in raised voice, creating a scene within the store. The CSR handles the customer tactfully and manages to pacify her by offering a 5% discount on her purchases for the day. However, the question remains ‘is the customer right’? 2) A retail store runs a discount scheme that, if the payments are done through a particular private bank’s credit card, then customers would get 4% discount. Generally this fact is clearly told to customers in advance, and also made clear that discount scheme is available only on that particular private bank’s credit card. Here is this customer, let’s call him ‘Anish’ who comes to the store with his friends. He does shopping of whatever goods he wants and comes for
The customer need not be always right and the business will have to weigh the importance of every customer it deals with billing. As usual Anish was also informed about the scheme that the store was running i.e 4% discount on the bill if the payment is done using a particular private bank’s Credit Card. The bill is produced and Anish makes payment using Google pay, probably which might be linked to the same bank’s card, and claims for the discount. Since the payment is not done via credit card, there is no discount available. He gets wild and accuses the billing clerk of cheating and fraud. The clerk tries to explain, but to no avail. Anish is shouting and abusing the billing clerk and it is a bad situation in store. Are such customers worthy? 3) A newly married couple on a honeymoon trip with a reputed tour agency gets into a confrontation with the tour agent assigned by the company for that tour. As a part of tour package, customers were taken to a particular island from the main land. The only mode of travel was ferryboat that shuttles between the island and mainland. The frequency of ferryboat is hourly. So in case anyone misses a particular ferryboat then that person had to wait for one hour for next ferryboat, plus travel time. The tour agent before taking customers to the ferryboat, for onward journey, had very clearly instructed everyone that they have about two and half hours’ time to spend on the island and that they have to catch the 4
pm ferryboat, for which they should reach the ferry point latest by 3.50 pm. Again, after reaching the island, before the group could disperse, the tour agent reminded all members that they have to be at ferry point by 3.50 pm, and that if anyone doesn’t reach on time and happen to miss ferry boat, then they have to make arrangements to reach the hotel on their own. At the designated time all group members took the ferryboat and reached back to mainland and into their bus. When the entire group boarded the bus, the tour operator noticed that two seats were empty. That means two people had not returned back and were still on the island. Surprisingly, nobody could make out who these two people were, as the couple, since the time tour started, had never interacted with any other members of group. The tour agent spotted that it was the honeymoon couple, and tried to reach them on phone, but could not connect. Later, others too tried to reach them over phone, but no luck. The group then took a unanimous decision to wait behind for another hour, so that the couple is not put to hardships. After wait for one hour, the couple is seen coming hurriedly towards bus. As they were entering the bus, the man starts yelling at tour guide, questioning her as to why they were left behind and why did’nt she wait behind for them to come. He went on to say that it is the responsibility of the tour guide to ensure that everyone has come and that she can’t be negligent about her duty. The tour guide tried to tell them that it was instructed to all clearly to come on time to ferry point and catch the 4 pm ferryboat, but to no good. The man was hyper and in mood to argue. It is then that fellow members of the group intervened and asked the man to shut up, because it was his mistake not to come on time and that they had wasted one hour of all other group members. What an illogical customer is this! Well the point is, not all customers are right. There are irrational and illogical customers, and there are also argumentative customers. Yet some others always seek undue benefits and advantages. It is not worthwhile pampering and striving to keep such customers for life. It is better to do away with some customers, as greed and irrational behaviour has no easy cure
The writer is a Founder Director, Saldots Academy, Corporate Trainer and Facilitator, Former Chairman, Goa Management Association. Email: pradeepsalgaonkar@gmail.com 46 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
CSR INCUBATOR / KISHORE M. SHAH
Educational Institutions and CSR
The writer explains how a technology college in Coimbatore is facilitating CSR appropriate behaviour and is sensitising students towards their social role and responsibilities
H
ere is an interesting story of how an educational Institute in Coimbatore is slowly and steadily facilitating CSR appropriate behaviour in a planned way and sensitising the students towards their social role and responsibilities. I was invited as an expert to review their projects and also mentor the faculty, members and students. KCT - SOCIAL IMMERSION PROJECT (SIP) A Case Study. Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), Coimbatore is a private Engineering College started in 1984 under the aegis of Ramanandha Adigalar Foundation, a charitable educational trust of Sakthi Group. The able guidance and patronage of Arutselvar Dr. N. Mahalingam, Founder of Sakthi Group along with the efficient administration of Dr. B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman, the resourcefulness of M. Balasubramaniam, correspondent, and the foresightedness of Shankar Vanavarayar, joint correspondent has equipped the college with excellent facilities and wellqualified faculty. Their management is hands-on and sets the strategic direction for Kumaraguru Institutions Group (KIG) KCT has initiated various programs within and outside the curriculum on social consciousness and outreach. To mention a few, Kumaraguru Action for Relief and Empowerment (KARE) is a volunteer-led movement, that, supports the victims of natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, and other calamities including the pandemic and ‘Namadhu Pangu’ (our contribution) for the progress and development of nearby villages. KCT Business School (KCTBS) implemented the Community Engagement project in 2012. In 2014 the Social Immersion Project (SIP) was introduced based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG). KCTBS is also a member of the PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education). The SDGs are relevant for business schools as they can influence students with responsible and sustainable business practices. In 2021, under the thought leadership of Dr. Mary Cherian, Professor and Head, KCTBS, it was decided that SIP must demonstrate and achieve 2 major goals – sustainability and social impact. Team leads Vanitha N along with Ranjith P, both
Assistant Professors at KCTBS, worked to create a broad framework for the updated SIP. Based on the framework, the following objectives were set: • KCTBS to identify a village with pressing needs and initiate actions towards their betterment. • Sensitise KCTBS students towards ground-level realities inculcate social responsibilities and expose them to responsible management projects as future thought leaders. The major aspiration of the 2030 UN SDG Agenda is captured by the tagline ‘Leave No One Behind.’ Gandhiji viewed that, “Progress of a society should be determined by the state of the most vulnerable and the weakest ones.” People, who are furthest from the frontiers of development, are to be brought up to the level of the others for real development. The belief that social and economic change should be the responsibility of every individual and the society in general is one of the drivers of SIP and was one of the reasons to adopt a tribal village. Plans to introduce interventions in terms of education, healthcare, sanitation, empowerment, and economic independence hoping to impact the standard of living and achievement of UN SDGs are the highlights of the SIP program. Situated downhill of Nilgiris, Kallar Pudur, a village in Karamadai block, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu consisting of a tribal community of 1500 people, called ‘Irulas’, was chosen for the implementation of SIP. Approach
The writer is the Managing Trustee GDP Foundation www.gdpideaz.org Email: managingtrustee@gdpideaz.org 48 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
Members of the SIP team outlined the concept to Thangavel, President of the Village Panchayat. He was very happy and rendered all his support to complete the initial phase of the project. The Team Leads also recognised the necessity of having CSR industry mentors to assist these projects and reached out to me as the Managing Trustee of GDP Foundation; and Sharada Venkateswar, social worker for coaching and guidance. Phases The first phase of the project had 180 MBA students (Batch 2020-22) collaborating in 13 groups to research the pressing needs of the people there. Based on the findings of the study, the mentors have recommended innovative solutions to meet those needs. As part of the next phase of the project, the project team will collaborate and seek funding from government initiatives, NGOs, Corporate Social Responsibility programs, and international partners for implementing the identified solutions. The team is working right now to bring massive behavioural, social, and economic changes to this village. Miles to go KCT BS has piloted SIP which will be taken over by the next batch of students, to ensure and monitor growth and sustainability. The long-term goal of SIP is to make an impact at the grass-root level and bring more and more needy villages into its fold, using UN SDGs as a guide and contribute to the growth of the nation as a whole. The team has taken a small step but has miles to go Continued On Page 50
CABBAGES AND QUEEN / NANDINI VAIDYANATHAN
The A to Z of Management Temper
The author tells us how one can inculcate management temper; and the composition behind the idea
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hat is management temper? Why does one need it, if at all? Is it different from scientific temper? We can get nit-picky and argue that the two are different. But if we cut to the chase, they both refer to the same thing that is, our attitude of taking all facts on board, letting facts and logic guide our decision-making. The next logical question then is, can management temper be cultivated or is it that one is born with it? I refuse to believe that a matter as mission-critical as this is subject to the caprice of DNA. In the 45 odd years that I have flogged myself, both as a corporate professional and as an entrepreneur, there is one divine revelation that I have had and that is management temper can be cultivated because essentially it is a composite of diverse skill-sets. Not in any concerted fashion, but fairly scientifically (employing tools of scientificity such as observation, iteration, variation, induction and deduction) I have identified many skill sets that individually can be enhanced, collectively can be embellished and overall made to inculcate a management temper that works in the pulsating psyche of an organisation. I am happy to share my learning here. What is a skill? The simplest and best definition is the dictionary one, ‘ability to do something well’. In other words, demonstrating a certain level of ease and comfort, using minimal resources that comes with expertise. Somehow in management, the word skill has been associated more with ‘doing’ than with ‘thinking’. Examples are, he’s a skilful coder, she’s a highly skilled negotiator. Whilst there is brain power behind both statements, the skill refers to the doing rather than mental math. Having lived and worked in 63 countries over 40 years, I have learnt that skill, like
attitude is cognitive. So I am going to put together the few cognitive skills that I have identified over the years, in no particular order of importance, that go to make up management temper: Regurgitation: this refers to the act of going over and over again in one’s mind the problem on hand and with each time, there is excitement, agitation, churning and filtering, so much so that it leads to what I call the ‘threadbare solution’, that is a logical resolution of the problem without conditional clauses and fancy frills. Visualisation: I am not an architect, nor am I a trained interior decorator but give me a blank space and literally in a jiffy I can visualise how I can ‘dress’ up the room. This is paradoxical because if you give me the measurements of the room, I simply can’t visualise the space at all. For instance if you said to me, it’s a large room, 120/50 ft, it means nothing to me. I have extrapolated this visual skill very many times in doing up my office spaces, hiring people of talent (seeing potential before they see it), plotting facts, interlinking them and going beyond obvious connections, to great success. Number-crunching: this is an obvious one, those great with numbers may not have the same facility with words, but I have seen many with a middling balance of both, neither skill present in abundance. Creativity: this again is an obvious one. I remember I got chided by my boss once that every problem does not require a ‘creative’ solution. The example he gave me was, if your shoe is new and pinches your foot, the obvious solution is to wear socks and that works. You don’t have to ‘creatively’ modify the shoe!
Wordiness: again an obvious one, someone who is a master at choosing just the most perfect word to describe a situation. People with this skill are puppeteers with words. They evoke, invoke, produce a world which they want you to see, and they have the skill to make you see it, even if it is not your natural skill. Viewfinder: these are the silent observers who are obsessed with training the telescope on everything and everybody. Seeing is all they do. It is a highly underestimated skill because if only we gave importance to what they see, and we learnt how to see what they see, the insights gathered could fundamentally change the way we look at ourselves and our relation to the world. Socratic: teacher par excellence. People with this skill should be entrusted in carrying on the values and the legacy of the organisation. Scriptory: this is a skill for recording by documentation everything that happens in an organisation. The Socratic penchant for ‘teaching’ combined with this skill for documenting creates the best archives for an organisation to refer to, the best knowledge bank as it were, from time to time. Each of this is a complex skill in itself. I don’t think everyone has all the skills. I also don’t think there is anyone with none of these skills. Each of us has an affinity to our natural set of skills and identifying them early in life does two things. It helps you consciously embellish them and it helps you train yourself in those which you lack. I have always maintained that it is the organisations’ responsibility to make each employee not just who he is but who he is capable of becoming. That is the process of inculcating this management temper
The columnist has commenced her fourth professional avatar with her bakery and restaurant business in Jaipur (www.concoctions.fr) with her French Michelin-star chef life partner. Email: nandini@carmaconnect.in Continued From Page 48
before it attains its goal. Benchmark and Replicate Goa has about 35 plus under graduate colleges spread across 12 talukas, 6 plus engineering colleges, now that NEP 2020 will roll from the coming academic year, educational institutions will need platforms to build both capacity and capability of students in line with NEP 2020 goals and if we replicate the KCT model, customise it to 50 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
our needs and priorities it will serve as an excellent transition to NEP 2020. Keeping the frame work of SDG (Sustainability Development Goals) we can easily access the existing scores on the micro indicators for every village/taluka on SDG and then make educational institutes in the vicinity design an intervention program/ project thus making them accountable for taking up comprehensive role and responsibility for the overall, sustainable welfare based development of that village
through students and link the same to the grant in aid and other benefits they would receive subject to the improvement of the micro indicator scores. The general tendency or mindset is to keep medical colleges/faculties/students in the forefront for welfare based development however the KCT case study proves otherwise, that educational institutes can equally contribute towards CSR. While we are creating smart cities we cannot ignore building ‘Adarsh villages’
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INVEST RIGHT / MAHESH PAI
Why is investing in India a great option for NRIs? The author highlights different reasons on why NRIs should invest in India
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he enhancement in foreign direct investment in the Indian market is becoming much more conducive for investment - not just for Indians, but also for the NRIs. If you are an NRI you need to understand the benefits of investing in Indian markets and learn more about other options available. The Indian economy has consistently ranked in the top five fastest growing economies in the world over the past three decades. The stability in the economy reduces the risk of investment on the other hand. An economy with more than 130 crores of people holds immense opportunity in terms of investment returns in most sectors. Even with the pandemic in the backdrop, the Indian economy is projected to grow by 8.8% according to the IMF. Some Indian economy facts: 1. When it comes to purchasing power parity, India is the 3rd largest economy to make the list 2. Fifth largest in terms of GDP - Better than Canada and Russia 3. Foreign exchange reserves in India increased to US$ 617.65 billion as of March, 2022.
The interest rates are higher here as compared to countries like the US, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Especially considering the past year, India has surpassed many developed economies in terms of return rates also tax-free. While FD stands at an average 5 per cent interest rate, these plans could get you up to a 6-6.5 per cent rate. So, if you invest for say, 10 years, you could choose your return as fixed monthly income or a lump sum amount. Alternative Assets The beauty of economic progress and growth is that newer and better forms of investment options can develop and prosper. NRIs get a lot of taxation benefit and there a few investment plans / products which are tax free too. This gives an upper hand while planning for your investments.
So why should NRIs invest in India? The Value of Currency Over the last two decades, tremendous industrial and economic development has brought about a paradigm shift in the country’s financial landscape. Even though the Indian economy has been booming over the past few decades, the power of currencies such as the USD, Pound sterling, and the Euro has steadily increased as compared to the rupee. This would mean that you will be able to earn better returns.
Better Interest Rates The interest rates are higher in India as compared to countries like the US, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Especially considering the past year, India has surpassed many developed economies in terms of return rates. From September 2020 to September 2021, Indian markets have delivered up to an impressive 53 per cent return compared to 25-30 per cent in other countries. Even the Indian banks provide better interest rates than the US, Japan, China, and many other countries! Sounds surprising, right? But most NRIs aren’t aware of this fact and end up letting their money stagnate.
Diversification One of the greatest advantages of investing in India is the range of options available for investing your money. You can diversify your portfolio with investments such as equity funds, debt funds, liquid funds, stocks, and more across sectors and industries. There are goal-based saving plans (for growth, legacy planning or retirement), capital guarantee solutions, guaranteed return plans and annuity etc. if you don’t want the market volatility to impact your money at all, you could opt for guaranteed return plans that come with zero risk. You also get a higher rate of interest than FD, which is
Retirement Setting up a retirement plan either by investing in mutual funds, stocks, annuity plans, pension plans is easier and cheaper in India as compared to countries like the US. Many NRIs want to return back to India for their retirement but their biggest problem is income. They end up using up all their savings in buying real estate expecting a regular rental income or try to start a business and fail most of the times as they were into a service background earlier and have no knowledge about running an Indian business now. Starting your investments early for the purpose of retirement helps a
The writer is an investment consultant and business coach. Email: mahesh@maheshpai.in 52 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
long way. Historical market returns The historical trends suggest that long term investments in the Indian market can give better returns. Earlier in the 1950s India was a poor economy with low purchasing power. Indians did not invest anywhere. Later in the 1990s due to liberalisation and privatisation the purchasing power of the Indians went on top. People now started investing in real estate, FDs and sooner in the equity markets, as well. After 2016 demonetisation, people started investing more in the financial assets than physical assets, the growth of the economy suddenly increased. Today, the Sensex even touched 60,000 points, many people made money but many lost as well. Consult a professional financial planner to mitigate the risk and make profits, as well. Earlier you invest, the better There have been projections that India is poised to grow into a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. It is a hard fact that investments reap better returns over a longer period of time. Also, if you want ripe returns for a one-time event like your child’s education or marriage or your own retirement, starting early is the key. If you are putting off your Indian investments for a later date because the process is complicated, think again. India has outperformed the markets of other developed countries like China and Japan, as well. These numbers are a welcome change for Indians around the world who have been looking to invest in India’s growth story. Keeping in mind the inflation, the education or the medical expenses will go considerably up by then. If you delay investing today, you will either have to make up for it by investing a higher amount every month or by losing out on returns. So, if you are wondering what the right time to invest in India is, the answer is now!
MARKET KA SAMAY / SAMAY SHETTI
The Bear delivers a near knockout punch, the Bull tries to find its footing
The writer captures the mood of the Indian bourses in the month gone by
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nd here we are nearing another monthly expiry, on 27th May and Nifty back on its support of 15800 pts as on the 3rd expiry of the month on 19th May. Let us do a quick check on the movement of the markets over the month picking up where we left off. April month closed at a flat on the level of 17245 pts, right on the 200 MA line on the day charts after an extremely volatile week following the third weekly expiry, playing jump rope with it. Following that, from the first day of May, the bear has been showing its strength, bringing Nifty 50 down by a good 1568 points over 20 trading sessions as of 19th May and closing the week calendar week with another spike on 16266 giving an indication of a possible reversal or fall continue its choppy behaviour it showed from 19th to 29th April. The Triggers The quarterly result season has been bringing in a lot of movements in the broader markets fueling the volatility. This coupled with skyrocketing inflation rates in the global markets, resulting in the strong hawkish stance of the central banks across the globe to control it. The Reserve Bank of India on the 4th of May increased the Repo Rate (Repurchasing Option Rate) by 40 Bases Points viz 4.4% and the CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) by 50 Basis points viz 4.5% with the intent of absorbing the liquidity in the system and thus controls the inflation rates. Other than that, the Rupee hitting an all time low and rapidly rising prices of commodities added to the margin pressure in various sectors. While the event that triggered this ripple effect by supply chain disruption, the Russia-Ukraine war itself has taken a back seat. Sectoral View Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) The FMCG sector has seen a rally since 12th May after seeing a straight decline due to the shortage of wheat and palm oil the news of ban on palm oil exports by Indonesia playing a major role in it. Being the sector that affects domestic consumers directly the government came in with measures to counter it like the move to ban exports of wheat from India to counter the demands, also the news of lifting of the ban by Indonesia added to the sentiments of purchase in the FMCG stocks. The rally
lead by ITC, currently trading near its precovid levels of 300, the FMCG Index stands on a full recovery and a major resistance at the levels of 38600, 870 pts, viz 2.3% over its 200 MA line. Other than ITC, Hindustan Uniliver, Adani Wilmar, Ruchi Soya, and Godfrey Philips have already taken a bounce from their supports, stocks like Tata Consumers, Godrej Cosumers and Nestle have reached are trading on their crucial supports whereas Britannia has given a good breakout as of 20th April. A cautious view needs to be maintained in this sector as while a breakout can open space for the rally continuing, a reversal is also possible owing to global triggers. Information Technology (IT) The IT sector has been a major sector which has played a role in dragging the markets down, owing to the changing dynamics in the work culture, the attrition weaker results and lower margins owing to the incentives to counter the attrition, IT has continued to decline, since major breakdown the index giving on 18th April where it opened over 1600 pts. below its 200 MA and has been consistently trading below its 50 MA on day chart after the Death Cross on 25th April, in May itself the index has come down by 3400 pts, and is now approaching its last year’s consolidation level over 800 pts below the current level at 27500. Investors must avoid buying this sector as after a breakdown these stocks are heading to its next support levels, buying opportunities will present itself only when it shows a considerable bounce from those levels. Major names like Infosys leading the dive, Wipro, TCS, HCL tech, LTTS are approaching its support. LTI, Persistent, BirlaSoft, KPIT tech are on their support. Mphasis, Mindtree are falling knives while Tata Elexi is on a straight rally approaching its resistance showing total defiance to the trend! Real Estate The realty sector, after seeing a straight decline of 16.5% since the beginning of May series, has been consolidating on its support levels for the last week. A breakout can be expected if the index crosses the level of 410 pts and can open up investment opportunities, it currently trades at 398. In this sector, stocks like DLF, Godrej Properties, Prestige, Sobha, Kolte Patil,
The writer is a Technical Analyst and Investment Consultant. Email: samaysshetti@gmail.com 54 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
GMR Infra, and LT are all trading at their support zones at very attractive levels. However, buying is recommended only on a breakout in these shares as they are subject to the hawkish stance of the RBI. Auto After a fall of nearly 12% from 11288 pts on 28th April, the auto sector has seen a sharp reversal of 7.1% from its low of 10100, currently trading at 10900. Over the last week, Auto stocks have shown interesting moves and are now at congestion levels near their resistances. In this space, stocks like Eicher Motors are at very attractive level trading above its 200 MA, TVS Motors though trading over it is showing an indication of reversal from its high while Hero Motocorp and Tata Motors are approaching 200 MA levels and Maruti Suzuki is in its consolidation zone. Short term investment in these shares is now possible as the risk reward ratio is favourable, but must only be done with a strict stop loss. Banks Bank Nifty which goes in tandem with Nifty 50 joined the dive from April 5th and gradually reached its low of 33000 and has given a bounce of 4% from there. Owing to the correction, most of the banking stocks, both PSU and Private Sector are now in a very attractive zone in terms of long term as well as short term investments. The risk reward ratio in the stocks is very favourable, to name a few, the HDFC twins are trading at their lows and a crucial support zones, Axis bank gave a strong indication of a breakout on 20th April. Banks like SBI, Indusind, Canara bank, RBL Bank and Bank of India are trading on their support zones while IDFC First; Bandhan Bank and PNB have been in a gradual downtrend with low volumes. Sugar These sector has seen a good move in the last week’s trading sessions, seeing steep recent corrections after ethanol play rally, stocks like Dwarkesh Sugars, Balrampur Chini, Dalmia Sugar, Mawana Sugars, EID Perry, Awadh Sugar have taken a bounce from their lows, while Dhampur Sugar, KPR Mills are still continuing their downtrend. The view in this sector would be cautious and buying possibility must only be explored in the stocks that have already
WOMEN AND HEALTH / DR EMANUEL GRACIAS
Dyspareunia: Don’t Choose Between Pleasure and Pain Intercourse is always associated with pleasure the expression, connection, and satisfaction. While many people can experience this pleasure, there are some who are unfortunately plagued by pain. Sometimes, sex hurts. But one shouldn’t assume that it is normal, the writer-doctor addresses the case
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he idea that it is okay for sex to be painfully unpleasant sometimes, should at once be dropped – it’s not okay. Besides the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects, the ability to have sex can be hindered by other reasons not external to the body. One of these reasons is simply pain- pain before, during, or after intercourse. When such a feeling of throbbing discomfort arises persistently or recurrently, it is known as dyspareunia. Some people claim that it hurt during the first time they engaged in sex. However, it isn’t the case for all and shouldn’t be seen as an expected parcel of sexual encounters. Pain at any stage of your sexual journey, be it the first time or well after it, is a matter of concern. There are several reasons why one may experience painful intercourse. There are both physical and psychological causes. Physical causes of such pain include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), fungal infections, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cervical fibroids, and deep seated endometriosis. Skin to skin contact during intercourse can be extremely uncomfortable and painful, triggering inflammation and irritation. Menopause too, is a prevalent physical cause, stemming from decreased oestrogen levels and less elastic vaginal tissues that make sex not just painful, but also almost impossible. Another physical reason could be vaginal dryness. Inadequate lubrication leads to friction and pain during intercourse. Among the various psychological causes of dyspareunia, vaginismus attains primary significance. Described as an involuntary tensing of muscles around the vagina, vaginismus is fraught with recurrent or persistent difficulties in vaginal entry of any sort. The ambiguous or identified fear of penetration could be one of the indicators of vaginismus, besides trauma from sexual
detect possible cervical cysts and fibroids, a trans-vaginal ultrasound is conducted.
abuse or violence, uncomfortable first time sexual encounters, and in some cases, even strict religious and cultural beliefs that shape the idea of sex. Pain before intercourse primarily arises due to the anticipation that it will hurt. Many women continue to endure the excruciating pain of intercourse, primarily due to the fear of being labelled as ‘defective’, ‘faulty’, or even ‘abnormal’. They are consumed by the feeling of inadequacy on not being able to express themselves sexually. Acknowledging the fact that sex hurts, should be the first thing on your list in such a case. Do not continue to bear the pain silently. Communicate with your partner. Talk about the issue. The condition can also be self-managed through different coital positions, adequate lubrication, and generous foreplay. Consult a therapist or seek counselling services to locate the fear, if any, and to resolve it smoothly. The next step would be to visit your gynaecologist. Open up to your doctor about your pain. Do not get embarrassed while explaining the case. A thorough history of the case is needed to determine whether the pain has been present for a considerable period or is a relatively new phenomenon, whether it occurs with every sexual partner or just one specific partner. A pelvic exam will be undertaken to check for signs of inflammation or irritation to determine if the pain is caused by any sort of infection or even endometriosis. To
Treat the cause: This is the mantra for all actionable outcomes of the diagnosis and treatment of dyspareunia. If the pain is psychological, potentially indicating vaginismus, treatment options would typically comprise of modalities used to deal with vaginismus. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is used to help patients understand how their thoughts and emotions coincide with their behaviours and reactions. If vaginismus is primarily incited by fear of physical damage to the insides, an effective treatment option is practicing kegels or pelvic floor exercises. This also applies to the treatment of physical causes of painful intercourse. Cases of STDs, fungal infections, and PIDs are managed through the typical treatment options available for these ailments. Similarly, if it is menopause that’s causing the discomfort during sex, you may be prescribed low-dose oestrogen to deal with the vaginal dryness. Use a lubricant before and after sex to relax the tightness and minimise the chafing. Cervical cysts, fibroids, and endometriosis too, are dealt with according to the prescribed modality of treatment. While treating all these causes can be treated to their core individually, the rules of care and caution often coincide.As the treatment takes its course, remember that you are as worthy and deserving of a sexually fulfilling life as anyone else. Enduring the pain, thinking that it will somehow ‘numb’ the hurt only contributes to making dyspareunia a highly under diagnosed condition. Remember, sex should never hurt. If it does, something is wrong and that something needs to be addressed. You shouldn’t have to choose between pleasure and pain
The writer is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Gracias Maternity Hospital in Margao. Email: emanuelgraciasmd@gmail.com
shown a reversal from its lows with a short term view. Ending Note After coming down from 18100, Nifty just retested the 15800 levels on the third expiry of May, this factor is commendable as the Indian markets have seen massive volumes of exits in position by the FIIs at a point even touching the levels of covid low, but
After coming down from 18100, Nifty just retested the 15800 levels on the third expiry of May, this factor is commendable the Indian markets stood resolute on its levels backed by DIIs and Retail Investors. However, with every retest, a support gets weakened and chances of a Breakout or
Breakdown increases just like the chances of a hit increases after every blank fired in a Russian Roulette (Or Gabbar’s Pistol). In these kind of markets, for investors the best way to go about is to invest their capital in lot sizes of 10% in the sectors of their choosing on the stocks near their strong supports and those who have given a strong breakout over their resistances with a strict stop loss only
Reader discretion and research is suggested before investing in any stocks based on the above insights. This publication does not promote any stocks or companies and shall not be held responsible for any action of the readers.
MAY 2022 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | 55
SANTOSH KENKRE / WISE WORDS
How to work and live efficiently
The writer places great importance on good business communication for smooth functioning of enterprises
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n our first year B.Com studies, we had a subject, Business Communication having 100 marks. I used to wonder whether this subject was necessary and worth 100 marks. After 37 years of practice, I realise that proper communication is vital for businesses as well as in personal life. The mantra is three ways. Communication comprises of three limbs – In time, Complete and Qualitative. The first limb ‘In time’: This means that the message etc. should be passed on well within time, i.e. not last minute nor in a delayed manner e.g. sourcing of raw materials should be told at least a few weeks in advance and not a few days prior. The other person should be left with enough time to fulfil the request. The second limb is ‘Complete’: Communication should be 100% complete e.g. If only 75% of the desired message is conveyed, the other person may be left confused and may mess up the work. All aspects of the matter should be communicated. The third limb is ‘qualitative’: Let us assume that a message is timely and complete but is incomprehensive for the receiver. Some parts of the communication have more than one interpretation. The finer points and nuances have not been explained. What exactly is expected from the receiver of the message is not clarified. In all such circumstances, the communication may be ineffective (at least partly) and the work may remain incomplete or half done. Effective communication ensures good relationships and enhance efficiency of a company as well as a family. I have seen number of families and organisations face ruin with improper communication. Jack Welch was of the firm opinion that in companies, communication should be ‘candid’. A sugar-coated communication leads to waste of time, money, and efforts as per him “call a spade, a spade.” For instance, if an investment proposal is under consideration and the boss favours it. But others feel it is too risky; they should be candid and tell the boss so. Else, if the proposal is implemented, the company will suffer losses, and the boss may get upset with these others who did not tell him candidly. Innovate, Improvise, Update: Always find
a better way of implementing production, trading, providing service, etc. Do this before your competitors trump you. Your constant lookout should be how to reduce cost and increase income. I know of a big factory in Goa, which doubled its production by improving upon the method of production. Lastly, keep your knowledge of your business, ‘up to date.’ Training/reskilling should be ongoing processes. All these will reduce your cost and increase margins. Reliance (RIL) had an innovation council headed by scientist Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar. Every company should offer cash awards to staff for good suggestions. In Walmart, reportedly, the best suggestions come from its lower staff. I had visited the Toyota car factory in Karnataka, where the prize winner used to generate one suggestion every hour! Such is the magic of cash awards for suggestions.
it leads to massive waste of time, money, and effort. For example, if a customer is expecting 25% discount and you are willing to give only 5% discount, please negotiate this issue first. If you discuss everything else and come to the discount finally, the deal with fall through leading to loss of time and effort. However, this idea has to be very skilfully executed.
Procuring Machines: Be it in office or factory or shop or at home, make sure that you buy the best quality machines/equipment with the latest technology. Technology gets outdated within months or years, hence buy the latest. Often, there is a temptation to buy a second hand machine (mostly for manufacturing). Kindly consider why the seller is disposing the machine off? Has he misused it? Is it due for heavy repairs? Is the technology outdated (most likely)? Will it be useful and help in production of competitive products for at least 3 to 5 years? Be mindful of these. Decades back, a senior CA had advised me not to buy a second hand car, lest I spend lot of time, money, and effort in repairing the same.
‘Open and Objective Mind.’ This mantra will really help youngsters for a lifetime. Many people have prejudices, fixed mindset, rigid ideas; hence they lose out on good opportunities in life. They don’t like certain people or certain ways of doing things because of certain beliefs. Thus they don’t lead a contented and peaceful life. If you open up your mind slightly and keep it objective, you can accommodate the world. You can see the other person’s view point, which will be correct at least 50% of the time.
Appointments and yet inform: In my view, one should never visit anyone (including relatives) without taking an appointment. Else, you may end up wasting your time (if s/he is absent) or their time (if s/he is busy otherwise). Even, if you have an appointment, it is advisable that you phone them and only then set of your for the meeting. This is because some people forget the appointments given. But this phoning has to be done selectively unless you end up irritating the other person. I know of a top dentist, whose staff phones and reminds the patients of their appointments. Most difficult aspect first: Jack Welch says that, whilst negotiating, most difficult part of the deal should be discussed first. Else,
Follow-up and Review: It is universally known that lest a task is followed up or reviewed periodically, chances are that it will remain incomplete! Our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is good at follow up meetings. Getting reports about the progress of the work also serves the purpose. I remember Dr. Dubhashi, former Vice Chancellor of Goa University used to have review meetings, which kept everyone on their toes.
PO-PO: First ‘PO’ means being Positive and second ‘PO’ means being Polite. Positive: In life, one needs to be positive. There will be number of problems, issues at home or at work. One should face these bravely and overcome them with a positive attitude. You can even change the circumstances if you are positive. Polite: I have seen countless examples of people who are polite and humble and hence scale huge heights by developing massive networks and well wishers. I have also seen the opposite – arrogant people who get rejected or avoided by people who they come across. Arrogance repels people whereas politeness captivates people. If you want to be successful, one of the major differentiating factors will be how you come across your bosses, subordinates, colleagues, customers, suppliers, friends, family etc. By being polite, you can win the world
The columnist is a senior chartered accountant. He is Chairman of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Goa; and Director of EDC, Goa. Email: srkgoa@gmail.com 56 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
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pice up your summer with sensational cuisine from the coast of Malabar this May at Grand Hyatt Goa. Expert guest Chef Latha, a culinary genius from Grand Hyatt Kochi, brings to you authentic favourites and her very own signature recipes. Experience a spread of rich and aromatic dishes from 13 to 27 May 2022 at Chulha where Chef Latha will take charge of the kitchens. Chef Latha, Chef de
Cuisine at the Malabar Café, Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, empowered herself from the norms of the society and mastered the culinary arts. With exceptional knowledge and hands-on experience in age-old Kerala cuisines, the extraordinary woman takes pride in her own recipe book to be published later this year and has more than 3,000 original recipes in her repository. An ardent promoter of good
58 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
Chef Latha
food concept, Chef Latha is also the patron of organic cooking which speaks about the type of
food that she brings to the table. Kappadu Kaya Curry and Meen Manga Thakkali Curry are her signature specialties, a must try at the festival. Special beverages from Kochi will also accompany the meals. Choose from a specially curated menu that include options of seafood, meats, vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis and enjoy the simple and rich flavours of the Kerala, from spicy to sweet and sour
NEWSMAKERS Gaurish Dhond awarded the Indian Red Cross Gold Medal for 2020-2021
Rtn. Gauirsh Dhond, Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society, Goa State Branch has been awarded the Indian Red Cross Gold Medal for the year 2020-2021. Dhond is also the Governor of Rotary International District 3170 (covering clubs in Goa, Belgaum, Dharwad, Hubli, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts). Owner and managing director of Dhond Hotels, he is also a real estate developer, a dealer of IOCL petrol and owns an industrial unit at Kundaim. Currently, he serves as the President of Goa Hotel & Restaurant Association. Dhond is involved in various organisations concerned with charity, in particular, the Chinmaya Mission, Panaji. In the past, Dhond has also been the proud recipient of a number of awards such as the ‘Four Avenues of Service Citation Award’ and the ‘Selfless & Gallant Service Award’ by Lion’s Club International, Belgaum, among others
Gautami Raikar’s The Legal Capsule raises funds from SucSEED Indovation
Contract Management firm - Attort Legal Consultancy Pvt Ltd (known as The Legal Capsule), has raised an undisclosed amount from Hyderabad based SucSEED Indovation Fund. Gautami Raiker, CoFounder and CEO of The Legal Capsule said, “We believe effective contract management is a must for every enterprise to fully secure their interests and we endeavour to help them in the digital transformation of this very important space. TLC has been helping mid and large sector enterprises to manage and automate contracts right from drafting to execution and renewals.” The Legal Capsule allows drafting the contracts in MS Word within the application, seeking internal approvals, negotiating clauses with counterparties, e-signing using legally binding signatures, e-stamping modules for states across India and storing all contracts in one single repository. It uses AI and ML to analyse the reported findings and offer blockchain-powered authenticated signature solutions that not only captures signatures, but live photographs of the signer, GPS details, IP address and date and time of signing contract
Gauree Malkarnekar wins Narayan Athawale Smruti Patrakarita Puraskar
Gauree Malkarnekar, Assistant Editor at Times of India, Goa has been awarded the Lokvishwas Pratishthan’s Narayan Athawale Smruti Patrakarita Puraskar for 2022. This is the eleventh year the award was presented for contribution of the awardee journalist in the social and educational sphere. The awards were presented at the hands of High Court Judge, Mahesh Sonak. Gauree maintains a hawk’s eye on Goa’s expansive education sector. And when she is not chasing schools, headmasters and teachers, she turns her focus to crime. A trained commercial artist, she landed her first job as a graphic designer with a weekly, but less than a fortnight later set aside the brush and picked up the pen. Lokvishwas Pratishthan has been working in the field of education to rehabilitate children with special needs since 1981. Gauree has earlier won the Goa State Journalist Award for best reporting with special reference to women and children/social issues 60 | BUSINESS GOA INDUSTRY DOSSIER | MAY 2022
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Sainath Uskaikar’s Konkani short film ‘Wagro’ reaches Cannes Festival 2022
Goan Konkani short film ‘Wagro’ (Place of Sacrifice) has been officially accepted in the Short Film Corner category, at the prestigious Festival de Cannes, 2022. The Short Film Corner aims to promote emerging talents and facilitate the interactions between the creation and the industry. Wagro is a love story of a couple trapped in circumstances trying to find where they belong and want to belong. The story, screenplay and direction of the short film are by Sainath S. Uskaikar. Currently studying at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, he is an engineer by qualification. The film is produced by two time National Award winner De Goan Studio headed by Rajesh R. Pednekar and Gayatri Pednekar The cast consists of Sobita Kudtarkar, Shravan Fondekar, Pranav Tengse and Amodi Sanap
GCCI and GMA felicitate Walter Vieira
Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) in association with Goa Management Association (GMA) felicitated Walter Vieira, hailed by Philip Kotler as one of the best Speakers on marketing. Vieira is an international marketing consultant, strategist and L to R: Manoj Caculo, Ralph de Sousa, Walter Vieira, Amin Ladak, Pratima Dhond speaker. GCCI President Ralph De Sousa and Immediate Past President Manoj Caculo did the honours in the presence of Amin Ladak, Chairman of GMA. Vieira was the first to start a marketing consultancy in the country. In 1975, Vieira also became the first Asian to become the chairman of the 42-nation world apex body of management consultants; International Council of Management Consulting institutes (ICMCI). Over the years he has designed marketing strategies for India’s top business houses. Vieira has also taught at the Kellogg School of Management, Chicago, where he has served for more than two decades
155 1. The last Greek alphabet shares its name with a premier watch company. 2. Which company makes the automotive battery brand Amaron, the second largest selling automotive battery brand in India? 3. Which financial institution started sporting the ‘Triveni sangam’ logo since1997? 4. Which South India based company owned the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2014? 5. In 1997, which business newspaper was acquired by Kotak Mahindra Finance from its founding company Ananda Bazar Patrika? 6. Whicn infrastructure listed company holds the contract for building the new Zuari bridge? 7. Which company was founded in 2006 by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal? 8. Who is the CEO of India Hotels Company Ltd ? 9. Identify this business leader Answers to BG Quiz 154: 1.Vishakhpatnam 2. Patanjali 3. Rajasthan Royals 4. Forbes 5. boAt 6. Larsen & Toubro 7. Acer 8. Kia 9. Paul John 10. Rohini Nilekani Email your answers to businessgoa.media@gmail.com First all correct entry will get 1 year’s subscription to Business Goa
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