Ever since Telangana agitation gained momentum in 2009, the booming IT industry in the city felt the pinch, losing out on business and employment due to security fears. In the backdrop of formation of a new Telangana State, experts believe the IT scene in the city will be on track hereafter, albeit with new challenges. “Now that the stalemate is over, let’s get back to business,” say the numerous stakeholders of the IT industry in unison, even as they heave a sigh of relief.
The IT industry and its high-salaried employees have been significant contributors to the State’s revenue by way of various taxes. In the yet-to-be-formed landlocked Telangana State, many feel that the IT industry in Hyderabad is the golden goose which should be nurtured carefully by the successive governments. “The new government in Telangana needs to initially concentrate on the city’s IT sector and then the surplus money generated can be utilised to develop the rest of the region,” says J.A. Chowdary, co-chairman, FICCI, AP Chapter.
“Hyderabad is an advantageous location since there is enough government lands here when compared to other metros like Bangalore. There is also good scope for the growth of electronic manufacturing and software industry which will also generate lot of revenue.”
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In the present scenario, some techies from Telangana region are taking proactive role highlighting the issues of the employees. “We have already met various political parties and submitted some recommendations for the benefit of the IT industry and its employees. We do not have a platform for grievances and we live in apprehension due to lack of job security. There are fraudulent companies too operating in the city which need to be checked. We are also worried that ITIR will be neglected in the State. We will raise our voice whenever there is an issue and put pressure on the government,” says Sundeep Kumar Makthala, founder and president, Telangana IT Association.
Another major issue that has come to the fore time and again is the security concerns of women employees. In October last year, a techie was gangraped by a cab driver and his accomplice in the Cyberabad zone and just six months prior to that another IT professional escaped a rape bid in Gachibowli. Poor lighting, lack of night vision CCTV cameras, and poor public transport are some of the concerns of the employees working in the area and they seek improved patrolling. The city is also bracing up for an unprecedented change as the law and order subject will be under the purview of the Governor for the next 10 years. “We are predicting that till 2017 there will not be any major changes in terms of shifting of companies or employees. We have already taken up many security initiatives for the safety of employees and we will continue to do so,” said Srinivas Prasad, secretary, Cyberabad Security Council.