KTR suggests Standard Health Code for IT sector

IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao who sought several reliefs for the information technology sector and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) from the Centre, suggested implementation of a Standard Health Code in high-density IT parks and special economic zones similar to that of fire protection policy.

The Minister wrote in detail to Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday as a follow up to the video conference on April 28. Rama Rao who had told the Union Minister that he would soon write a detailed letter comprising suggestions and a few directions for the post-corona scenario, at the outset, expressed happiness over considering Telangana as an active partner in the ongoing discussion of impact of the pandemic on the industry.

Stating that the onus of protecting the MSMEs was on the Centre, he said



that in Hyderabad alone, there were six lakh IT workers who have been enduring the impact of the lockdown, directly or indirectly. He sought certain exemptions to these small firms to save them from doom. He urged the Centre to quickly resolve the IT and GST refunds process to save the small firms.

He sought release of pending GST refunds up to Rs 25 lakh or less and 50% of the refund if the outstanding amount was more than Rs 25 lakh. Suggesting the establishment of a ‘Help Desk’ under the IT Department, Rama Rao said initially there was some confusion over the exemption of GST announced by the government resulting in non-compliance by some firms. He said that the refund process must be speeded up as per the Centre’s guidelines with the help of the Help Desk that should coordinate with various departments.