Govt. continues with ostrich-like attitude

What boycott? The firms never participated before: IT Secretary
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: This year's IT.Com is on track and all's well with the world. At least, that's what Karnataka IT Secretary Shankarlinge Gowda would have us believe.

As far as Gowda is concerned, the decision of major IT firms to boycott IT.Com is a non-starter. And ``the question of suffering losses does not arise at all because those companies that are threatening to boycott, have never participated in Bangalore IT.Com earlier.''

That said, Gowda hastens to add that he will nevertheless persuade the miffed firms to attend the event. `` We have already received 250 confirmations and are confident of crossing the 285 mark by next Thursday.''

If the number one grouch of the Bangalore Forum of IT Companies (BFIT) _ a group of 15 _ is infrastructure, then the Government is keen to ensure that that's set right.

For starters, work on the Bannerghatta Road was already initiated on Friday, Gowda said. Though the approvals were received a week ago, work was held up due to rains. ``By the end of this month, all potholes will be filled up and set right all over Bangalore'' he promised.

BFIT, on its part, has decided that if the Government does not do something soon to address the infrastructure needs of the IT sector, they will hold a protest rally at the Bangalore Palace Grounds on Sunday and will ensure the participation of many more IT companies.

A BFIT spokesperson said that what they required was basics, not the frills. ``We want bread, not cake. What's the point in talking about attracting FDI when the basics are not in place'' he asked.

According to him, there was absolutely no forethought on the part of the Government when it came to the growth and survival of the IT sector in Bangalore.

``I know for sure that Philips Software has withdrawn after confirming its participation in IT.Com and both Texas Instruments and Hewlett Packard were actually considering participating, but not any more,'' he said.

Philips Software, he said, had invested millions of dollars in its facilities here and needed to expand but there was no land available. Even Wipro had to go to Chennai for 80 acres and Infosys had to settle for Mangalore because there was no land available in Bangalore.

To add to Karnataka's woes, other states are more than willing to fill the vacuum. Tamil Nadu has extended its IT park to include 500 acres while Pune's IT park now includes 400 acres.

The Government's euphoria over its recent achievements in the IT sector for the last fiscal was nipped in the bud on Friday when top IT firms announced that they would boycott the 7th edition of IT.Com, just three weeks away.

IT.Com is an annual event which showcases the achievements of the IT companies in Bangalore and also attracts investments into Karnataka from all over the country and the world. This year, 15 Indian states will participate in IT.Com as against 11 last year, with Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya being the latest entrants. Fourteen countries have confirmed their participation as against 11 countries last year, Gowda said.