History

Microsoft conducted Anti-Piracy raids in Madurai in 2006. Most of the Madurai based CAMS (Computer and Media Society) Association members were affected due that activity. CAMS requested help from neighboring associations like CDAT-Tirunelveli (Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari), ACT - Trichy, CITACoimbatore to close down the shutters of all shops of members. CAMS closed down their shutters from 9th November 2006 to 11th November 2006. Supporting CAMS, Tirunelveli (Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin) & Trichy Associations shut down their shops. Then CAMS invited all associations for a formal meeting at Madurai.

Due to Microsoft’s anti-piracy raids at Madurai, we CAMS requested help from neighboring associations like CDAT - Tirunelveli, ACT -Trichy, CITA-Coimbatore to close down the shutters of all shops of members (we closed down our shutters from 09- Nov-2006 to 11-Nov-2006). Supporting us Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Trichy shut down their shops.

We invited all associations for a formal meeting at Madurai@GRT Regency on 25-Nov-2006.

Madurai CAMS Associations Past President Mr. K. Senthilnathan took all the initiatives and brought together the Coimbatore, Erode, Trichy, Karaikudi, Kumbakonam, Salem, Sivakasi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Virudhunagar to very first successful meeting in which a historical decision was taken that we need to unity of all associations in one umbrella. It was also decided to finalize the name for the united association, the office bearers etc in the next meeting which was scheduled at Coimbatore. CAMS President Mr. S.N. Selvasekaran took active part in co-ordinating all the associations.

The 2nd meeting was held at Coimbatore on 10-Dec-2006. At Coimbatore meeting we named the combined body of all Associations as “TANITA” (Tamil Nadu Information Technology Traders Associates) in which few more associations took part. We drafted some guidelines like 3 persons per Associations would attend the meetings of TANITA. Mr S karthikeyan of CITA was proposed as the President for TANITA to take up the initial tasks which was challenging our community.Aletter was drafted and sent to Microsoft on the challenges faced by our community in preloadingWindows OS along with the computers.

We had our 3rd meeting at Trichy on 11-Feb-2007 and Mr. B. Kuberan and his team played a vital role in accelerating TANITA still further.

The 4th meeting was held at Pondicherry on 14-Apr-2007 in which Pondicherry Association joined. Till such time we were focusing on uniting associations in Tamil Nadu excluding Chennai. At Pondicherry we felt the need for all India level association. Since the name “TANITA” was more a Associating body of all Associations of Tamilnadu, it was decided to rename and form a Confederation. Then Confed-ITA (Confederation of Information Technology Associations) was formed and was registered at Pondicherry. On the same day office bearers for Confed-ITA were selected drawing a lot as follow:-

Mr. S. Karthikeyan, Coimbatore was elected as a Chartered President of Confed-ITA

Mr. P.N.Prasad of Pondicherry, travelled throughout Tamil Nadu to add more associations to Confed-ITA is commendable. Mr. P.N. Prasad started a closed mail group of members of member associations, which is still active.

Based on above chronology we have Coimbatore, Pondicherry, Salem, Madurai, Trichy and Tirunelveli regions. Officially,

• 1 st Confed-ITA EC meeting held on 01-06-2007 at Coimbatore.
• 2nd Confed-ITA EC meeting held on 14-08-2007 at Madurai, Microsoft officials from USA attended the meeting and a memorandum was handed over to Microsoft Legal Manager.
• 3rd Confed- ITA Executive committee meeting held on 16-09-2007 at Salem and President Mr S Karthikeyan came up with the idea of uniting all our members & Vendors under one platform for unity and also fund raising for Confed- ITA, Plan was was discussed in detail by President with all OB & EC to take it forward.
• 4th Confed -ITA Executive committee meeting held on 14-10-2007 at Ooty. Our ConfedITA was registered at Pondicherry on 2nd Nov. 2007 notable efforts were made by Mr. Nair and Mr. Prasad, Mr S Karthikeyan Opened the Bank account at Coimbatore.
• 5th Confed- ITA Executive committee meeting held on 27-11-2007 at Ooty. • 1 st Summit held on Nov. 17th and 18th, 2007 at Ooty. Rs. 1,500/- was delegate fee. Summit would have not been possible without Mr. S. Karthikeyan’s plan and hard work.
• 6th Confed ITA Executive committee meeting held on 22-12-2007 at Nagercoil and the same day, Kanyakumari association was born. EC Guidelines are framed.
• 7th Confed ITA Executive committee meeting held on 17-02-2008 at Erode.
• 8th Confed ITA Executive committee meeting held on 14-04-2008 at Madurai. First GT2GT (Get Tother To Grow Together) Vendor Partner Meet held at Madurai under chairmanship of Mr. Suresh Kumar Sony.
• 9th Confed ITA Executive committee meeting held on 13-07-2008 at Tirunelveli.
• 10th Confed ITA Executive committee meeting held on 14-09-2008 at Tirupur. Our much-lauded PA Insurance scheme was initiated by our Charter President Mr. S Karthikeyan and the same was delegated to Mr. K. Babu of TITA. 900+ members were insured immediately from the surplus made out of Summit.

Honouring, the dedication and hard work of Mr. Selvasekaran in uniting the associations, he is recognised as “FATHER OF CONFED”