Chennai SIs form an association

Sneham, a new association for system integrators in Chennai is all set to be launched shortly. The objective is to protect and promote the interests of SIs and address their issues and concerns.

This development comes in the wake of Tamil Nadu's premier association, Dealers' Association of IT's (DAIT) inactivity in recent times. In fact, some key members who represented DAIT are forming Sneham. However, DAIT will continue to exist and according to its President Nimish Tolia, it is the well recognized body in Tamil Nadu. "Even the state government in its communications related to sales tax, excise council and other issues refers to DAIT," he reveals. "Whenever there was an issue, we resellers get together to find a solution and we will continue to work in this fashion." However, he admitted that DAIT needs a major revival and strengthening, which will be done shortly.

Sneham means friendship and the association's tagline is `Together Enhance Excellence'. The managing commitee will comprise leading resellers like Ratna Kumar of CCS Infotech, Krishna Kumar of Sri Lakshmi System Products, D Sridharan of PV Hi Tech Systems, Kumar of Universal Micro Systems, R Aravindan of Compact Systems, Ramanathan of Surya Peripherals and Ramkumar of Sensar Micro Electronics. "We will have two more members in the managing committee, whose names will be announced shortly," said Sridharan, who has been appointed as Secretary.

The other office bearers of the association are Ratna Kumar as President, Krishna Kumar as VP and Kumar of UMS as Treasurer. Presently, the association will have its registered office at CCS Towers in T
Nagar, Chennai.

"We are working on the constitution and by-laws to be presented before the Registrar of Societies for approval and a formal registration of the association," reveals Sridharan. Later, the association will form many committees under the managing committee to take care of the specific tasks.

"Of late, channels are facing many problems in business such as bad debts, payment default and in other statutory requirements and changes. To better protect the interest of resellers, we have formed this association," points out Ratna Kumar. Sneham has many objectives common to the other associations, including organizing seminars and roadshows to promote business. It plans to charge Rs 500 as entrance fee and another Rs 500 as annual membership fee.

"The managing committee will meet once in every three months and the association will have its AGM. This apart, we will also meet whenever there is an issue to discuss and identify the solution," explains Sridharan. The association will have 50 members while launching and plans to enroll another 50 members before the end of this fiscal. "We might also consider opening regional
chapters across the State to cover other cities," Sridharan adds.

There are two other well-known associations functioning in Chennai, the Information Technology Traders' Association(ITTA) and the G-10 Computer Dealers Association (G10). While the former is mainly associated with traders of Ritchie Street -- the hub of IT activities in Tamil Nadu and South India -- G10 majorly focuses on consumables resellers. 

There is yet another one more low-profile association called CITRRA working for the inkjet and toner refilling and re-manufacturing service providers. Besides this, there are many associations across the state representing their local market.

With one more association coming into the space, it is the question of wait-and-watch for the result of the effective functioning of the associations in
Chennai

S GOPIKRISHNA

CHENNAI