Recently Canada has launched its digital nomad policy . Earlier many European nations have also launched schemes for digital nomads .
Digital nomads are usually service sector workers who have remote working capability owing to good digital connectivity.
They usually are highly skilled , high earning individuals , abound with creativity and innovative potential. Their purchasing power is high , hence they add to economic activity .
In the current knowledge era , every nation wants individuals who act as a technological asset .
Bali ( Indonesia) , Italy , Greece ,Canada are emerging as favourite digital nomad hubs .
India can also tap into this opportunity of approx 5-6 million digital nomads .
The following steps can be taken in this regard :
1- Creating digital worker friendly zones ( particularly in hill stations and islands ) .
2- Ensuring reliable high speed internet connectivity.
3- safety and good infrastructure in terms of electricity and roads and green infra .
4- ease of taxation: taxation for digital nomads must be very friendly and facilitative.
5- to attract such talented fellows , special digital worker zones can be created. With on demand visa facilities, bare minimum taxation etc.
Even it can be considered that a transaction based tax is implemented rather than income based one .
As our nation is embarking on a transformative journey of becoming a developed nation , we need to adopt a leapfrog mentality.
Simple linear growth won’t suffice.
We need to have bold policies , with a high degree of flexibility and rapid decision making structures .
On the technological front , India has done wonders in those sectors where we had an audacious leapfrogging target .
simple computerization wouldn’t have yielded results.
Audacious quantum shifts like UPI ( unified payment interface) , Adhar , world’s largest drone survey program in the form of svamitva yojna etc have helped us in creating a mark in global development terrain .
Time is now to think big , act bigger and dream massive.