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IT hub out of reach for willing workers

By Sumit Kumar, Section News
Posted on Fri Dec 15, 2006 at 04:17:40 AM EST

The IT hub of Salt Lake sector V was out of bounds for people who wanted to join work as the transport network was totally crippled by the all-India strike call. Some IT companies managed to run their emergency 24-hours support services having made contingency arrangements, but many others had to bite the dust.

The sector V was heavily guarded by armed police contingents. However, reportedly, cars carrying IT personnel from their homes were detained, ignition keys snatched at various parts of the city.

"We were alert and the situation was under control in sector V," said Praveen Kumar, police super of North 24-Parganas.

Hordes of IT personnel, girls and boys were seen arriving in cars from different parts at the gates of Wipro, Congnizant, PriceWaterHouse Coopers and other renowned IT companies between 5.30 am and 6 today. However, reportedly, the figure is marginal as compared to normal days.

At around 7am a group of CITU supporters tried to block the road near Nalban, off E M Bypass. However, the police, including the district superintendent Praveen Kumar, rushed to the spot and controlled the mob within minutes. Cars carrying IT personnel were also stopped at Behala and Park Circus.

"We got a pick up from our company and arrived at around 4.30 am unhindered. But many of us left office around 11 pm yesterday night and now we are so tired. My shift starts late so I played a game of cricket with some of my colleagues to ward off the drowsiness," said Suresh Poonia, a software engineer working with Tata Consultancy Services.

"If public transport is unavailable it is indeed a problem for us as it is difficult to make arrangements for all employees. However, we some how managed to run skeletal staff," said B Hari, CEO of On Track Systems limited.

Some officials, however, put up a brave face. Ambarish Dasgupta of PWC said: "We gave a choice to our employees and brought them to office by 6 am though our shift starts at 9 am. Some people also stayed back last night. Around 400 people work with us in IT service consultancies and 65 per cent of them were present today."

Wipro authorities put the attendance to 55 to 65 percent, according to Jyotirmoy Bhattacharjee, station in-charge of the campus in sector V. The CITU office at the Sector V where cadres sat throughout the day in garden chairs, denied having used any force. "The bandh was observed by people willingly and we did not stop anyone," said one.

(Source-Indian Express,15/12/06)

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