IT brigade turning poll-savvy

IT brigade turning poll-savvy
20 Apr 2008, 0130 hrs IST,B K Ganesh,TNN
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BANGALORE: Let's not just sit and crib; let's be a catalyst of change. That's the message Bangalore's software professionals have internalized and are spreading ahead of Karnataka assembly elections.

The techies — most of whom showed little interest in politics and abstained from voting — are, this time around, keen to participate in the electoral process. They are spreading the go-out-and-vote message through blogs and e-mails. Their preference is clear: a mandate for one party.

"The people who were attached to their computers have now started thinking about the political scenario,” says Ravi Krishna Reddy, a US-returned engineer. "The notion that IT people are least bothered about politics should be changed. Everybody should participate in the democratic process."

Reddy, a candidate from Jayanagar, has harnessed the power of the web to express his displeasure at the sordid coalition drama that was enacted last year, and to talk about value-based politics.

Why is it that techies have begun to think about politics? "Uncertainty about their jobs and a rising rupee have made techies keep a watch on political developments," says Karthik Shekar, president of the Union of IT-enabled Services (Unites).

The Lead India initiative of The Times of India helped to create an awareness among IT professionals. The interest techies have shown in enrolling themselves and getting photo identity cards is an example, Karthik explains.

Unites has launched a campaign about the importance of participating in the democratic process. It aims to convince about 8 lakh techies to vote. It has written to the managements of IT companies to declare a holiday on polling day so their employees can vote.

Banavasi Balaga, a blog created by techie Praveen, has articles about the importance of voting. "In this era of globalization..., techies are equally responsible for change."