MANISH GUPTA
Ranchi, Sept 21: Jharkhand Information Technology Department on Wednesday moved a file to organise the Board of Directors meeting for Atal Bihari Vajpayee Innovation Lab (ABVIL) to finalise measures strengthening the startup ecosystem in the state.
“We will soon hold a board meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary. Files are being moved to finalise the date. There are several agendas including the new startup policy,” Information Technology Director and ABVIL CEO Manoj Kumar told lagatar24.com.
The ABVIL board led by Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh consists of 14 people from the information technology department, industry department, academia and the corporate world. The board of directors meeting is likely to happen after the Durga Puja.
As for the new Jharkhand Startup Policy, which will replace the first Startup Policy that lapsed on 19 September 2021, Kumar informed that some departments have raised queries on the draft policy and that the IT department is working to resolve them.
The urban development department has to reimburse all municipal duties, taxes and fees to the startups for the first three years. The revenue department, which has to reimburse 100% stamp duty and registration to startups on their first transaction of sale or lease of private land, has raised some queries.
“The state commercial taxes department has given its approval on the proposal of 100% exemption of net SGST (state GST) for five years,” said DS Verma, Project Manager, Jharkhand IT department. The energy department is yet to give its nod. It needs to approve the proposal to give a rebate of 30% on the actual electricity bill or Rs 60,000 per month, whichever is lower, he added.
While the IT department is coordinating with other departments for getting the required clearance for the new startup policy, they plan to organise the ABVIL board meeting to check the level of infrastructure built by former partner IIM Ahmedabad and draw up the plans for strengthening the startup ecosystem further, this time with Jamshedpur-based XLRI School of Management. An MoU is to be signed between XLRI and ABVIL.
A Central Innovation Lab is coming up in place of the old Jharcraft building on Ratu road in the state capital. “Nearly 40% of the construction work is done by the earlier partner,” Verma said, adding that the board meeting is expected to accelerate work.
