MP Brijesh Chowta calls for rebranding Mangaluru as IT destination, emphasizes better connectivity
Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament, Brijesh Chowta, has called for efforts to change the negative perceptions about Mangaluru as an IT destination and to position the city as a thriving hub for the technology industry.
Speaking at the event “Mangalore IT Wave: Surfing Towards India's Silicon Beach” organized by the IT Task Force on Tuesday, Chowta underscored the need for rebranding Mangaluru to attract IT investments and development.
During the interaction with representatives of IT companies, Chowta highlighted that Mangaluru already contributes significantly to the IT sector, with earnings reaching 500 million dollars. However, he stressed that many from outside the region still view the city as not conducive for IT industry growth, primarily due to safety concerns and the lack of a vibrant social life.
“There is a misconception that Mangaluru is not a safe place for IT companies, and some believe the city has very few pubs or places for partying,” said Chowta. He argued that such perceptions were holding back the city’s potential and emphasized the need to promote Mangaluru’s unique selling points (USP) instead. “We first need to highlight Mangaluru's natural beauty, unique features, and the facilities it offers. Pubs, clubs, and a lively nightlife will follow later. It doesn’t work the other way around,” he added.
Chowta also shared two significant plans aimed at boosting Mangaluru’s IT potential. The first initiative, called “Back to Uru” (Back to City), focuses on engaging IT professionals originally from Mangaluru but currently working in different parts of the country or abroad. Chowta expressed his desire to interact with these top IT officials, encouraging them to contribute their knowledge and resources back to the city. Through idea exchanges and collaboration, he believes their expertise could play a vital role in elevating Mangaluru’s position as an IT destination.
The second initiative, “Be Your Own Boss,” is designed to empower mid-sized business owners in the region. Chowta highlighted the importance of supporting entrepreneurs in establishing and expanding their businesses, creating more opportunities for local growth. He emphasized that, with the right backing and support, Mangaluru has the potential to produce its own IT giants. “Infosys and TCS didn’t happen overnight. It took ambitious people and strong support to build these companies. With the right guidance, a company like Novigo can be the next big IT name from Mangaluru,” he said.
Chowta pointed out that Mangaluru has the necessary infrastructure and opportunities to attract IT companies but has underperformed compared to other cities. He called for the creation of a comprehensive branding strategy to position Mangaluru as a “Silicon Beach,” a nod to its coastal beauty and potential as a technology hub. According to Chowta, the IT Task Force must include all key stakeholders, including the district administration, government representatives, and IT sector experts, to craft a unified plan.
“The task force should regularly engage with all stakeholders to figure out why Mangaluru has not yet achieved the success it deserves in the IT sector,” he said. While he acknowledged that the city has not performed poorly, he stressed that it has underachieved given its potential. Chowta urged IT professionals and experts to convene regularly to find solutions to the challenges Mangaluru faces in becoming an IT hub.
Chowta further reflected on how many IT professionals from Mangaluru had to move to other cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru to pursue their dreams. “Back in the early 2000s, about 20-25% of the IT workforce that moved first to Mumbai and then to Bengaluru were originally from Mangaluru. If they were able to achieve their dreams in other cities, we need to ask ourselves why they could not do so in Mangaluru despite the city’s potential,” Chowta remarked. He encouraged the IT community in the city to hold monthly meetings to discuss ways to improve the local IT ecosystem.
Addressing concerns regarding the city's early closing hours for hotels, malls, and shops, Chowta dismissed the notion that these factors were significant deterrents to investment. He emphasized that the focus should be on larger issues like branding, infrastructure, and showcasing Mangaluru’s strengths to the IT industry.
One of Chowta’s key priorities is to enhance connectivity between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. He argued that better connectivity would not only help Mangaluru grow but also contribute to Karnataka’s overall GDP. Chowta provided updates on key infrastructure projects, noting that the contractor responsible for the BC Road-Addahole highway has promised to complete the work by March 2025. Additionally, he mentioned that work on the Shiradi highway will extend to Marnahalli and that plans are underway to improve Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway and bus services via the Shiradi Ghat route.
In response to a question from the moderator on whether more can be done at the political level to elevate Mangaluru's status as an IT hub among tier-2 cities, Brijesh Chowta emphasized that it is not just about politics. He stressed that all stakeholders, including industry leaders, government bodies, and local communities, must come together to put proper mechanisms in place for Mangaluru’s growth. Chowta also welcomed the government’s recent shift in focus beyond Bengaluru, calling it a positive step. He noted that Mangaluru is now on the government’s radar, which is a promising sign for the city’s future as an emerging IT destination.
Brijesh Chowta also assured that he would take proactive steps by meeting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during his upcoming visit to Delhi this month. He mentioned that he plans to personally discuss the idea of establishing Mangaluru as a prominent IT hub with the minister and will push for putting the necessary plans in motion. Chowta expressed his commitment to advocating for Mangaluru’s IT potential at the central level and ensuring that the city gets the attention and support it needs to become a thriving technology destination.
Mangalore Novigo Solutions CEO Praveen Kalbavi interacted with the MP. Head of Mangalore Infosys Vasudev Kamath, 99 Games Founder Rohit Bhat, KCCI President Anand G Pai, Dikshith Rai of Codecraft Technologies and other prominent companies participated.
CII IT Convenor Muhammad Hanif welcomed. Ashit Hegde gave the introductory speech. Shashir Shetty compered the program.
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Consumer Affairs Minister slams air purifier firms for false claims ahead of pollution season
New Delhi, Oct 14: Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday criticised air purifier manufacturers for making false claims about their products, and called for increased consumer awareness ahead of winter when air pollution worsens in Delhi due to crop stubble burning in neighbouring states.
Addressing an event commemorating World Standards Day, Joshi expressed concern over misleading marketing tactics adopted by some air purifier companies.
"Discussion on air pollution has begun. Looking at Air Quality Index (AQI) on mobiles, people out of fear, go and buy air purifiers. Air purifiers make such false claims. ...We see air purifiers and so much is written but nothing is there in it. There is just a fan in it, yet claims are still made," the minister stated.
Joshi called for a collaborative approach involving the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the consumer affairs ministry and consumers to address the issue.
While praising the BIS for their "exceptionally wonderful job" in recent years, the minister emphasized that more needs to be done.
"I do not blame BIS for this. BIS in the last few years has done an exceptionally wonderful job. But both BIS and the consumer affairs ministry and consumers together need to create awareness. It is important, and I strongly feel (this way)," the minister said stressing the collective responsibility in combating misleading product claims.
He emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring every Indian has access to safe, reliable, and high-quality products and services.
These comments come as concerns grow about air quality in major Indian cities and expansion of the air purifier market.
Joshi also announced plans to make BIS standards mandatory for public procurement on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. "BIS standards are partially implemented on GeM. We'll try to make it mandatory."
The minister highlighted the government's focus on quality standards, noting that Cabinet proposals now include global standard notes.
"These days, the tradition has started in the Union Cabinet. Wherever a bill to be introduced in Parliament comes before the Cabinet, the global standard note comes with it. That has been made mandatory for the Cabinet," he said.
This note mentions which countries perform best in the particular field, rules and how India can achieve it. "So, we have to match every Cabinet note with the global standards. This helps our government to make decisions to set high standards whether it is quality infrastructure or urban metro trains."
Implementation of standards at national level has been given a top priority by the government and is actively bringing more products under mandatory quality controls, he said.
He said that over 22,300 standards are currently in force, with 94 per cent harmonized with international standards. The number of Quality Control Orders has risen from 14 (covering 106 products) in 2014 to 174 (covering 732 products) now.
Also, 94 per cent of Indian Standards are harmonised with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Joshi stressed the interdependence of consumers and producers in fostering a quality ecosystem. He urged the BIS to take on more leadership roles in international standardization and fast-track the development of new standards.
World Standards Day, observed annually on October 14, aims to raise awareness about standards and their role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
