By J P GUPTA
New Delhi: For over a decade now senior government officials in the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology have been taken for a ride by a professional who had no technical knowledge of the domain or expertise yet heading a government constituted task Force, only for his organization being a ‘paper tiger’.
The man in the centre of storm is Pankaj Mahindroo and paper tiger organization that he heads since 2002 is so – called Indian Cellular Association (ICA). He is the national president of the association, whose other office –bearers are not known, as the website of this organization has also gone off wire.
The Wikipedia in its one of its notes about Pankaj says,” This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification.” It means even the Wikipedia is not sure of the credentials of Mr Mohindroo or his so-called pocket institutions like ICA and the latest one as India Cellular & Electronics Association(ICEA).
ICEA was formed by Mohibdroo in late December 2017 with India MD for Foxconn Clement Joshua Foulger as partner.Mohindroo has 95 per cent stake in this new outfit while Foxconn official has 5 per cent.
As per industry information, Indian Cellular Association (ICA) is neither registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 nor Companies Act 2013 but yet Indian Cellular Association is the apex body of the mobile industry comprising of manufacturers, brand owners, application & service providers, distributors, retailers and eminent customers of mobile handsets.
Not only this, Indian Cellular Association National President has also been appointed as Chairman Fast Track Task Force by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology on December 8, 2014 to re-establish and catalyse significant growth in mobile handset and component manufacturing eco-system in India despite not being registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 nor Companies Act 2013. He is still continuing with the post of the Chairman Fast Track Task Force.
The Terms of Reference of Fast Track Task Force was to achieve the objectives of National Policy on Electronics (NPE), 2012 which envisions establishing substantial manufacturing in the ESDM sector especially the mobile handsets and its component eco-system. The other objectives are to increase exports to 120 million units by 2019 and establish a sizeable component with a turnover of over Rs. 50,000 crore by 2019.
It is difficult to comprehend why Pankaj Mohindroo having led Indian Cellular Association has formed another association focusing on similar activities as that of Indian Cellular Association. Pankaj Mohindroo should have done all these activities in Indian Cellular Association.
Pankaj Mohindroo along with India MD for Foxconn Clement Joshua Foulger has formed a new association called India Cellular & Electronics Association whose main objective is to help establish India as the global manufacturing hub of the entire gamut of electronics products including but not limited to IT and ITES, mobile handsets and all accessories and white goods, consumer electronics products, LEDs, medical electronics products, sensors, semiconductor chips and inputs, parts, components, accessories, sub parts of parts thereof.
The other objective is to establish India as the major export hub.
The Smart Governance tried to seek Mr Mohindroo’s views on many issues but he did not respond to our e- mails nor did he say anything when contacted over mobile.
These were some of the questions the Smart Governance had sent to Mr Mohindroo, that remained unanswered.
•Indian Cellular Association was formed in 2002. Who were the founding members and office bearers of Indian Cellular Association in 2002?
•Presently, who are the office bearers – President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of Indian Cellular Association?
• What is the legal sanctity of Indian Cellular Association (ICA)? Is ICA registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 or Companies Act 2013 or any other legislation of government of India?
•Can I have a copy of Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association of Indian Cellular Association to support your claim?
•In 2017, you have formed one more association by the name Indian Cellular & Electronics Association. What was the purpose of this association when you have already formed Indian Cellular Association in 2002?
•Who all are partners in Indian Cellular & Electronics Association and what’s their equity? Can I have a copy of Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association of Indian Cellular Association?
More in next Issue on Tuesday.
