PCAIT: The progressive fifteen

The IT channel community of Delhi, the nation's capital, has finally found
a voice. It has come in the form of a brand new association called Progressive
Channels Association of Information Technology (PCAIT). Led by RK Malhotra as
the first President, the association was formally unveiled recently in a
function in Delhi.

The vision of the association is "A mature, open association Co-creating
the growth and harnessing the potential of the Information Technology Industry
governed by ethical, fair, business practices and setting standards for the
benefit of all". And the mission is "Work together, Build together,
Progress together".

How did this association come into being? What prompted it? Elaborated
Malhotra, "Our industry, particularly the channel community, has a vast
pool of managerial, technical and entrepreneurial skills. Most of them are
educated, ambitious and highly successful in their own domain. It would not be
an exaggeration to say that as a businessman, if you are successful in north,
you can virtually succeed anywhere. Therefore, a dire need was felt to
channelise such immense resources for the mutual benefit of the industry and
organizations with a predominant focus on growth and integrate such them
nationally as well as globally."

Accordingly, a group of 15 like-minded people representing various
organizations voluntarily came forwarded last year in May to convert this dream
into a reality. During the ensuing 10 months, more than 20 meetings were held at
different locations to identify the Vision, Mission and Objectives of PCAIT. And
finally, all the hard work of these 15 Progressive Men became a reality in March
2005 when the association was formally registered with the authorities.

JUDO, JODO AUR AAGE BADHO The association will focus on growth and integration of the channel community with the global IT scenario

Said an elated Malhotra, "To summarize the vision, mission and
objectives of the association, it can simply said that what CII is to the
industry, what NASSCOM is to the software industry, PCAIT is going to be to the
IT industry."

What's so unique about this association? Well, there are several aspects,
which differentiate PCAIT from other industry associations. First, the focus is
on growth and integration of the channel community with the global IT scenario.
Second, the membership of PCAIT is only by invitation so that only those members
are inducted who think alike, are in sync with its objectives and are willing to
contribute to the same. Third, the decisions of the Executive Council are by
consensus

and no voting is allowed. And fourthly, all the activities of PCAIT are focussed
through six committees. Each committee is fully empowered to take decisions to
achieve the objectives set out by the association.

Added Ranjan Chopra, the Vice President of PCAIT, "We have long plans
ahead. PCAIT will not function like a conventional IT association but is poised
to become magnificent and a force to reckon with in the coming months. Our
ambitions are global and we will strive our best to achieve it."

DQW NEWS BUREAU