NASSCOM when it started off was an iconic industry body, representing the aspirations and dreams of a resurgent India and its Middle class. The BPO and software industries were the poster boys of the liberalisation of the Indian Economy and NASSCOM was its visible face.
Somewhere from that pedestal, it slowly transformed into an organisation that represented big money interests of the MNC’s. Every conference, seminar, workshop were bankrolled by global MNC’s with their barely concealed marketing strategies as the main agenda. These had nothing to do with Indian software industry interests or for that matter Indian national interests. People who understood kept quiet as they had EMI’s to pay, jobs to protect and children to educate. There was too much money to be made, by keeping quiet.
Many grew disillusioned and saw NASSCOM as a body not representing Indian interests, but this presentation by NASSCOM in the 11 th Defence Information Technology Consultative Committee Meeting is an eye opener and has changed my perception – there is hope. They have recommended BOSS OS and a native OS for the mobile platforms. Now these are indicative steps and should be taken to its logical conclusion.
Now if only NASSCOM would also lobby for a Privacy Law and an indigenous chip manufacturing industry to protect the Indian nation and its vital national interests they can redeem themselves. Pushing for cloud technologies, without a Privacy law that will ensure data localisation and also re – creation of the ICT back bones by indigenous technologies are logical next steps in national interests. Inverted tax structures that prevent Indian manufacturing and innovation should also be something that NASSCOM needs to lobby and highlight. These are all aligned to the Modi Govt’s declared policies like Digital India, Make in India and Startup India.
President Trump and his initial days in office have already damaged the outsourcing industry by eroding the share prices of Indian Software industry majors. NASSCOM should see the writing on the wall and go in for swift course corrections. They still have a long way to go but it is a good beginning.
Good job NASSCOM !!!
Presentation by NASSCOM in the 11 th Defence Information Technology Consultative Committee Meeting
Excellent. A very timely advice to the govt and home grown Indian industrial houses. Hope they wake up and act, in their own interest, which also will be in national intetest.