The Hindu : Business : Playing IT low key

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

Business

Business

Playing IT low key

The Nasscom ITES-BPO Summit that got underway today — the most important event in the global outsourcing industry's Indian calendar — provided stark contrast with the previous year's event, at least as far as host Karnataka was concerned. And the reasons seemed obvious to many of the assembled chief executives.

Last year, the Karnataka's industry-friendly IT Secretary, Vivek Kulkarni, was on the inaugural dais, assuring the gathering of Indian IT heads and visiting international executives in an upbeat keynote, that the State was fully backed the industry. He rolled off statistics to show how Bangalore had become the biggest magnet for foreign IT companies in India — and on behalf of the State announced an initiative to conduct a test exam to help prospective employers tap the best call centre talent.

This year, the newly elected Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, had agreed to inaugurate the event; but late, last night, his office is known to have cancelled. A brief message of greetings was read out by the Nasscom President, Kiran Karnik. However, the top rungs of the administration also seemed to have stayed away from the inaugural in droves.

In contrast, other States deputed top officials: Tamil Nadu was represented by its energetic IT Secretary, Vivek Harinarain. The Kerala Government, which put up an information stall at the summit, was represented by K. G. Girish Babu, CEO of the Kochi Infopark. The IT Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir raised some pertinent questions during the main panel discussion. Top bureaucrats handling IT in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh are known to have registered as delegates.

"The Chief Minister's coming, even for five minutes, would have sent out a very strong signal to the assembled Indian and foreign CEOs — that even with a changed State Government, it would be `business as usual' when it came to encouraging IT'' said one Indian industry leader who did not want to be named. "As it is, entirely the wrong message is being sent that the new Government either does not care or is afraid to be identified as a supporter of IT so soon after its electoral reverses.''

But did the Central Government fare any better? The Union IT Ministry also seemed to be thinly represented at a top level. Indeed the only official of the Centre who actively participated today was B. V. Naidu Director of the Bangalore Software Technology Park — but then he is a familiar and respected part of the IT scene here. "IT is bad word in Vidhan Soudha, right now,'' quipped one upcountry delegate, "They're just lying low. Let's give the guys a bit of time to pick up the courage and be seen hobnobbing with us!''

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