Panaji: With the proposal to create beachside co-working spaces on the back-burner, the department of information technology, electronics and communications has stepped up to attract digital nomads by hosting a hackathon at Baga beach.The event will be hosted at four existing beach shacks from May 21-22, with 360 tech professionals and freelance developers already signing up for the two-day workation experience.The department is targeting social media influencers, designers, software developers, students, remote workers, startup founders, digital media creators and young innovators.“With this Goa Shackathon, we are showcasing the state as a global hub for remote work and creative innovation, where talent can thrive in an environment that inspires both productivity and wellbeing,” said IT minister Rohan Khaunte.“The purpose is to showcase Goa beyond tourism. The statement that govt wants to make is that Goa is the right place to enjoy the beach and build technology, a destination where people can work hard and experience activities such as watersports and sightseeing,” said a department official.During the shackathon, developers and innovators will be offered a chance at solving challenges related to waste management, tourism as well as functional difficulties faced by various departments in Goa.In 2022, the department announced plans to set up three co-working spaces at Ashvem, Morjim and Benaulim, at a cost of Rs 11 crore.
