E-commerce policy for Karnataka soon

Bengaluru: The Vision Group, which held its first meeting since being constituted a year ago,   on Saturday under the chairmanship of CM  Siddaramaiah, decided to come out with a new policy to facilitate e-commerce.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande said  IT and BT minister, Priyank Kharge had been given the responsibility of working out the new policy for e-commerce and resolving the recent conflict between the state government and those doing e-business.

Officials had been given time till mid- September  to find a solution to the problems of  e-commerce industries, including the Amazon e- marketing company, Mr Kharge later revealed, assuring that the government would resolve all issues pertaining to tax and finances raised by these industries. 

As promised in the budget, the government has registered a non-profitable company, the Karnataka Investment Forum, to look into  investments in manufacturing, IT, BT and the tourism sector.

The Forum with nine members, three from the Commerce and Industries department and five from the industries themselves, will also have the additional chief secretary on board.

“The members will be selected from among major industrialists with a good knowledge of Karnataka and the company will have a CEO. The process to set it up  and appoint its members will start soon,” Mr Deshpande said.

Vision group members suggested the government find ways to ease  the process of doing business in the state and improve the sagging infrastructure of Bengaluru and tire-two cities.

They wanted a  Rapid Transport System and  extension of Metro Rail to Whitefield and Electronics City to decongest city’s roads. Responding, CM Siddaramaiah is reported to have observed that it was a challenge to bridge the gap between the growth of industry and the quality of infrastructure in the city.

Meanwhile,  a  Think Big event has been planned for women entrepreneurs on November 14 and15. The idea is to  encourage women to  start their own businesses, according to Mr Deshpande.

CM to prepare list of chiefs for boards
Prior to leaving for New Delhi next week, Chief Minister Siddarmaiah is likely to meet Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dr G. Parameshwar and working president Dinesh Gundurao for preparing the list of candidates for boards and corporations in the state.

A senior leader said that the term of incumbent chairmen of boards and corporations ends on August 24 and the party top brass wants to finalise the list.

“They are likely to come up with three separate lists for these posts. First list will comprise MLAs and defeated MLAs who can be accommodated, the second list will have 50 per cent of MLAs and 50 per cent defeated MLAs and party workers, and the last list will have only party workers,” the source said.

The reason behind three lists is AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s insistence that party workers should be given a chance wherever the party is not in power. But Mr Siddarmaiah has a different view.

“He strongly feels that with just 20 months remaining to face the Assembly elections in 2018, it would be helpful if he accommodates MLAs and defeated MLAs. That is the reason, he is planning three lists, which fulfil his wish completely, another that fulfils it partially and the last that goes entirely by the Mr Gandhi’s diktat,” the source explained.