Minutes of the First meeting of the General Body of the Goa State Innovation Council held on Thursday, 14th September 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, Margao, Goa – 403602.

Ref: GSInC/2023-24/31

25/09/2023

Minutes of the First meeting of the General Body of the Goa State Innovation Council held on Thursday, 14^th September 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, Margao, Goa – 403602.

Present:

The Chairman formally welcomed the members of the General Body of the Society and the Invitees and stated that the quorum was established and the meeting was properly constituted at 9:30 a.m. The Members confirmed having received the Notice and Agenda of the Meeting. The Chairman, Member Secretary, Members and Invitees signed the Attendance Register.

1.1 Introduction to Goa State Innovation Council Society:

The Chairman briefed about the background of the Goa State Innovation Council (GSInC) and stated that the State Innovation Councils were formed under the National Innovation Council (NInC), Government of India as advised by the Adviser to Prime Minister, Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, Government of India on 4^th August 2011. The GSInC was initially constituted on 4^th August 2011 under the aegis of the Directorate of Higher Education and subsequently under the Department of Science, Technology & Environment on 12^th September 2013. The GSInC was later re-constituted on 19^th October 2021 under the Department of Science, Technology & Waste Management (S&T&WM) he added that recently Finance Department advised that GSInC should be registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 in order to continue receiving financial grants from the Government.

Chairman placed a copy of the Certificate of Registration of the Goa State Innovation Council Society dated 02/August/2023 (Registered No. 98/Goa/2023) received from the Office of District Registrar, South & Inspector General of Societies before the General Body and the General Body took note of the same.

The General Body noted the Governing Council and the General Body members as named in the Articles of Association. 

1.2 Financial Year:

The General Body decided that the financial year of the Society should be from 1^st April to 31^st March, and accordingly, the first accounts be made for the period from Society registration to 31^st March, 2024.

1.3 Appointment of Auditors:

The General Body discussed about the appointment of the auditors for the Society, The Society had approached M/s. Anup R. S. Borkar and Co., Chartered Accountants, to act as the Auditors of the Society. The General Body considered the matter and passed the following resolution:

“RESOLVED that M/s. Anup R. S. Borkar and Co., Chartered Accountants, be and are hereby appointed Auditors of the Society to hold office until the conclusion of the First Annual General Meeting of the Society, on such renumerations as may be mutually agreed upon”

1.4 Registered Office:

The General Body noted that the Registered Office of the Society will be at the Secretariat, Goa State Innovation Council Society, Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, Margao, Goa – 403601, the intimation of which had already been given to the Office of District Registrar, South & Inspector General of Societies.

1.5 Opening of Bank Account:

The General Body discussed about opening of Bank Account of the Society and passed the following resolution:

“RESOLVED that a Bank Account of the Society be opened with Bank of India, Fatorda Branch and that the said Bank be and is hereby authorized to honour all cheques , bills of exchange or Promissory Notes signed, executed, endorsed or made on behalf of the Society jointly by the Chairman and Member Secretary, and to act on any instructions so given by them relating to the Account whether the same be overdrawn or not or relating to the translations of the Society”

“RESOLVED further that a petty cash amount of Rs 15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand) be provided and maintained at the Secretariat of the Society”

“RESOLVED further that Mr. Bhupesh Prabhu Dessai, the accountant at the Don Bosco of Engineering, Fatorda shall be authorized to maintain the cash receipts, bank account and books of the society and he shall be paid a monthly honorarium of Rs 5,000/-”

The General Body agreed about creating a corpus fund for the Society, an amount of Rs 10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs) every year to be proposed to the Department of Science, Technology & Waste Management, Government of Goa, the interest earned from the corpus fund can be utilized by the Society for its activities or initiatives. The General Body authorized the Chairman to utilize the funds. The Account of the corpus fund be titled GOA STATE INNOVATION COUNCIL SOCIETY CORPUS FUND and the signatories of the bank account shall also operate this corpus fund and also invest the money of corpus fund to earn interest/income. It was reported that the activities of the Society were increasing and there was a need felt to appoint new staff to carry out these activities of the Council. It was agreed by the General Body members to enhance the budget of the council from 55 Lakhs to 100 Lakhs to the meet the requirements.

1.6 Application for Permanent Account Number:

The General Body was informed that the Society was required to make an application to the Income Tax authorities for the allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN). The General Body was briefed about the requirement of quoting PAN in case of several transactions as specified under the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The General Body considered the matter and pass the resolution:

“RESOLVED that Society do apply to the Income Tax authorities for the allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN) for the Society and that the Project Officer be and is hereby authorized to sign the application forms and all other documents as may be required in this connections.”

1.7 Application for Tax Deduction Account Number:

The General Body was informed that it was necessary to obtain a Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) of the Society. The General Body considered the matter and pass the resolution:

“RESOLVED that Society do apply to the Income Tax authorities for the allotment of Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) of the Society and the Project Officer be and is hereby authorized to sign the application forms and all other documents as may be required in this connections.”

1.8 Application for 12A and 80G registration of the Society:

The General Body was informed that it was necessary to apply for 12A and 80G registration of the Society. The General Body considered the matter and pass the resolution:

“RESOLVED that Society do apply to 12A and 80G registration of the Society and that M/s. Anup R. S. Borkar and Co., Chartered Accountants, be and are hereby appointed for the purpose. The Member Secretary be and is hereby authorized to sign the application forms and all other documents as may be required in this connections.”

1.9 Seal and Authorized Signatory of the Society

The General Body was informed that the Society was required to provide a Seal of the Society and passed the following resolution:

“RESOLVED that Society do apply for the seal of the Society and the Project Officer of the Society be and is hereby authorized to sign the documents on behalf of the Member Secretary as may be required.”

1.10 Appointment of Staff and Sub-Committees:

The General Body was informed that the Society would have to appoint a Program Manager, Project Officers and other support staff. The General Body discussed the matter and decided to set up a Selection Committee consisting of Mr. Carminho Jose Manuel do Rosario de Noronha Chairman – Chairman, Mr. Levinson Jeronimo Martins – Member Secretary and Dr. Neena Panandikar – Member and such other experts as the Chairman deems appropriate. The General Body authorized this Selection Committee to first select and appoint the Project Officer and Secretarial Assistant on such terms as it thinks fit.

The General Body also authorized to appoint a Purchase Committee consisting of Dr. Krupashankara  M. S – Member, Dr. Sunil Paul – Member, Mr. Yashvit Naik – Member and Project Officer – GSInC. Any Purchase related matters will the discussed and recommended for approval to the Chairman by the Purchase Committee.

“RESOLVED that purchase of Goods/Services up to the value of Rs 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty five Thousand) only on each occasion may be made with the requisite quality and specifications and have been purchased from a reliable supplier at a reasonable price without multiple quotation by the Project Officer.“

“RESOLVED further that purchase of Goods/Services costing above Rs 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty five Thousand) only and up to Rs 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh) only on each occasion may be made with the requisite quality will accept multiple quotations to ascertain the reasonableness of rate, quality and specifications and identify the appropriate supplier by the Project Officer.”

“RESOLVED further that purchase of Goods/Services costing above Rs 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh) only and up to Rs 5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs) only on each occasion may be made on recommendation of the Purchase Committee. The Purchase Committee will accept multiple quotations to ascertain the reasonableness of rate, quality and specifications and identify the appropriate supplier.”

“RESOLVED further that purchase of Goods/Services costing above Rs 5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs) only on each occasion may be made through eTender process by the State or Central Government.

The Chairman informed the General Body that the activities of the Society were increasing and there was a need felt to appoint additional staff to carry out these activities. Further while discussing it was informed that presently the Society operates from the Secretariat at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda with the following staff:

1. Project Officer
2. Secretarial Assistant

The General Body discussed the need to appoint additional staff to carry out the activities of the Society at length and it was decided that the following job roles at the Society were approved and to be proposed to the State Government.

1.11 Any other matters:

The General Body was informed about the India International Innovation & Invention Expo (INEX) 2023 and the dates were 9^th, 10^th & 11^th Nov 2022. The venue for INEX 2023 was finalized at the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda.

The General Body was also informed about the utilization of the premises for the purpose of the Secretariat and Rapid Prototyping Lab of the Society and the Project Officer was directed to consult the PWD for finalizing the rent to be paid to the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda.

There being no further business, the Meeting ended at 10:45 a.m. with a vote of thanks to the Chair.

CHAIRMAN