Director of Kenexa Technologies Aneeta Sakuru has appealed to the Minister for Infrastructure and Investments Ganta Srinivasa Rao to consider the relaxation of rules for the benefit of the IT industry and boosting the employment potential in Vizag.
In a petition submitted to the Minister here on Thursday she sought his intervention in inviting the IBM delegates to Visakhapatnam and prevail upon them to expand their operations in the city. She felt that the government and industry should work hand in hand in an amicable manner to create jobs. Such an initiative would make the IBM think on retaining the 25 acres of land allotted to Kenexa and increasing the number of jobs. She appealed to the Minister to direct the APIIC not to go ahead with the registration of the land proposed to be surrendered by the IBM.
Global slowdown
Mrs. Aneeta said that the global slowdown, severe problems of power shortage and poor infrastructure facilities were confronting the IT industry. It has become difficult for smaller and medium-sized companies to thrive and grow due to these problems.
APIIC has been issuing notices for the last two years to all companies including Kenexa Technologies Pvt. Ltd that haven’t met the employment promises. Kenexa has sought an extension of time hoping for some multinational company tie-ups. IBM has acquired Kenexa Inc. on December 3, based on a definitive agreement signed between the parties on August 27, 2012. Ever since there have been legal battles between the parent and India company of Kenexa. Indian directors do not want to surrender the land, but expand with IBM.
The industry problems can be easily overcome by the largest company in the world. The volume is an advantage for them in terms of operational costs. Their presence is going to be a boon to the industry as a whole.
Mrs. Aneeta said that Mr. Ganta Srinivasa Rao had agreed to convene an IT SEZ meeting with all the stakeholders and direct APIIC on behalf of the State Government to postpone the modification of the lease deed with Kenexa/IBM.
She said that if IBM retains the 25 acres of land, it would be able to fulfil the statutory obligation of providing 2,500 jobs in Visakhapatnam. It was not at all a difficult proposition for the world’s leading IT giant, which has 1.2 lakh employees in India.
She added that if there was no positive response from the government, they would be forced to take the protests on to a larger platform, involving the people.
