COMPASS going Regional from Local!

B.Hari,
President, COMPASS

How old is your Association?

The idea of forming an Association was conceived in 1993, but it was finally established on 9th June,1994, which means that COMPASS was registered under the Companies Act. Thus, we can say that it was incorporated in 1994. It was formed to exchange ideas and thoughts, protect the interests and rights of the members and IT industry, negotiate with statutory authorities collectively and encourage and spread IT awareness in Eastern India. 

Please share the details of its Governing Body?

Currently, the Association has approximately 400 members. The Governing Body includes President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and the Immediate Past President.  

Please elaborate on the election system of COMPASS?

Election, if required, is held every year. AGM (Annual General Meeting) is followed by voting and the results are declared by the Election Officer.  

How do you tackle channel-vendor issues? Please share some cases, if possible?

We try to solve the Channel-Vendor issues amicably after sitting across with both the parties. Sometimes, COMPASS has faced some very stringent issues too.  

What is the nature of issues that you come across? What kind of support do you receive from IT vendors?

We come across all kinds of issues with a number of vendor-channel issues on a slightly higher side. Normally, the support and interests of the vendors are good when it comes to focus on Eastern India.  

Do elaborate on the kind of initiatives that your Association has taken for the benefit of the members?

We hold COMPASS exhibition every year, which helps the members to showcase the latest technologies and products. We regularly hold seminars on varied topics to add to the knowledge of our members.  

What is your focus for 2011? Will you please throw some light on the soon-to-be- announced Federation?

The focus is on consolidating all the IT associations in Eastern India under the flag of the Confederation of Indian IT Associations (CIITA).  

In the recently held meeting on May 14, 2011 in Puri, the delegates of 10 eastern IT associations discussed and gave shape to the IT Federation. Fiesta (Federation of IT East Associations) has emerged as the preferred name choice, but we are waiting for clearance from the authorities. Not only this, it has appointed its office-bearers and selected the executive committee, with COMPASS and NECTA accounting for most of the berths. B. Hari from COMPASS has been appointed as the President of the Federation, followed by Manoj Lalani (ITAO) and Naveen Gupta (BITA) taking up the posts of Vice-Presidents. In the Secretariat, Rajiv Poddar (COMPASS) has been appointed as the Secretary with Ranjan Das (NECTA) as Joint Secretary. Pawan Jajodia (COMPASS) has been appointed as Treasurer, followed by Rajesh Agarwal from NECTA as Joint Treasurer.  

Besides appointing the office-bearers, the delegates also elected the Executive Committee (EC) comprising of two members from each attending association (10 in number) taking up the strength of the EC to 20. However, the Federation is expecting another 3 or 4 more associations to join which will increase the strength of EC to 30. 

Fiesta's primary objective is to obtain the channel policies from each of the vendors, besides seeking clarification over DOA and warranty issues. The associations which have joined the Federation (Fiesta) are NECTA from Assam, CAD from Dhanbad, ITDAS from Siliguri, JITA from Jamshedpur, ITAO from Orissa, BITA from Patna, CITA from Cuttack, Ranchi-based JCWA and COMPASS.   

The delegates have agreed to hold a quarterly meeting and have scheduled their next meeting at Bodh Gaya for 21st & 22nd August. For membership, the Federation has finalized an annual membership fee for associations as Rs.25,000 and members Rs.300. 

For more contact: Syeda Beenish
beenish@varindia.com