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GE, ADP, Infosys, Mahindra Satyam and Infotech – almost all IT and ITeS companies in the twin cities are impacted in one way or the other by the two-day bandh. But it is smartphones that have saved the day for the industry.
BlackBerrys, iPads, Android phones are all active on Tuesday morning with emails and phone calls flying thick and fast between staff, companies and police.
“As soon as their vehicle stopped by agitators, employees would inform their CEO or COOs who in turn would quickly inform the IT Task Force about the incident. Police would send teams to such places to release the vehicle,” a spokesperson of an IT company told Business Line .
Info-sharing network
A smart information-sharing network, started by the Andhra Pradesh police in association with IT industry during the earlier bout of Telangana strike last year, helped the IT firms to get in touch with their employees and police and clear obstacles if any.
The IT Task Force, headed by Additional Director-General of Police Mr T. Krishna Prasad, wrote a letter on Monday to all members and industry associations such as Nasscom, CII, ITsAP (the IT industry of Andhra Pradesh) giving them a list of dos and donts.
“By and large situation is expected to be peaceful on these two days. On July 7, there will be student rallies. Avoid University (Osmania) areas. On July 8 and 9, there will be rail roko. MMTS (local rail) is not likely to run. Switch over to road transport on these days,” he advised the industry in the letter.
Mr J.A. Chowdary, Chairman of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), said the industry-Government initiative to ensure smooth running of the industry was working very well. He, however, felt that the political uncertainty would leave negative images among clients.
Uncertainty impact
The ITsAP claimed that the bandh had no impact on the industry. “There could be a drop of 1-2 per cent in the attendance. It is not bandh that is worrying the industry. It is political uncertainty that would have an impact. Companies could either defer or shift their expansions to other cities,” Mr L. Suresh, President of ITsAP, said.
Mr Ravi S Rao, Chief Executive Officer of Value Momentum, said his company reported 80 per cent attendance.
Though big firms could afford to provide alternative transportation facilities, hundreds of tiny, small and medium enterprises reported far lower attendance in the complete absence of public transport.
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