The Hindu : Kerala News : IT companies seek strike-free atmosphere

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

IT companies seek strike-free atmosphere

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 22. Two Information Technology (IT) companies and an NRI gave up the decision to open branches in the State since the Government could not promise them an atmosphere free of bandh, hartal and labour unrest, the Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, told the Assembly today.

Replying to the questions of T.U. Radhakrishnan, T.N. Prathapan, K. Babu, M.A. Chandrasekharan and Adoor Prakash, Mr. Kunhalikutty said that there had been isolated incidents when entrepreneurs had refused to open companies in the State as the Government could not give them assurance; Trinity Computers, Cento Group and an NRI, Tom Vaidyan were among them, he said.

"The IT companies that come to the Technopark insist on being provided a strike-free atmosphere. Those concentrating on Business Process Outsourcing, call centres and IT-enabled services are the worst-hit by agitations.

The Labour Minister, Babu Divakaran, told V.D. Satheesan, A.P. Anil Kumar and Thampanoor Ravi in a written reply that the number of labour agitations was coming down.

Vehicle pollution

The Transport Minister, R. Balakrishna Pillai, said that certain vehicle pollution testing centres were issuing fake certificates and the Government had introduced the system to issue certificates with photos.

In reply to another question, Mr. Pillai said that the Government had banned the use of vehicles fitted with LPG cylinders and gas tank had been made compulsory for vehicles running on gas. Officials have been directed not to allow agents in the Regional Transport Offices.

The KSRTC has cancelled 156 schedules that were operating in loss. The estimated loss of the corporation in 2003-04 is Rs. 11.02 crores.

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