THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A host of issues including lack of social infrastructure, closure of liquor outlets, space constraints and women safety have been raised by chief executives of the Technopark firms at an interactive session with IT secretary M. Sivasankar on the state government's draft IT policy here on Monday. While Mr Sivasankar responded positively to some of the concerns like lack of social infrastructure, he reminded of the responsibility of companies on issues like providing hostel facility to women employees. The event was organised by the Group of Technology Companies GTech.
NEW IT BUILDINGS NEED BASED AND SPACE SHARING
Responding to a pressing demand from the chief executives for more space, Mr Sivasankar said the government’s policy is to commence construction of a new IT building once 50 percent space of the latest available IT building in the park was allotted. He also said that the government finalised a space sharing policy to make use of unused space of IT firms. Harish Mohan, director of Perfomatix, raised the space issue citing that he was waiting for new space for the last three years. Mr Sivasankar also said that a complete refurbishing of all IT buildings would be carried out every 15 years.
CO-WORKING SPACE
Many CEOs have actively pressed for a co-working space in IT parks so that small IT companies can easily start functioning. Responding to the demand, IT secretary said that the government could look into a new model of developing co-working space with private investment. So far such a request did not come to government’s notice, he said.
LACK OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
While the moderator of the event, GTech former secretary Anoop Ambika, asked those who feel that more social infrastructure was required to raise their hands, almost all the participants raised their hands. Interestingly, the IT secretary also raised his hand. All of them were unanimous that the social infrastructure needs to be built to facilitate the growth of IT sector by attracting more companies. Mr Anoop also suggested that the government should offer incentives to those who develop social infrastructures. He also said that the closure of liquor outlets would also have its repercussion on the IT sector.
IT Secretary M Sivasankar interacting with top officials of Technopark companies on Monday. Technopark CEO Hrishikesh Nair, GTech secretary Vijayakumar P, GTech innovation focus group chairman Anoop Ambika and GTech CEO Renjith Ramanujam are also seen. (Photo: DC)
COMPANIES, GOVT DIFFER ON WOMEN SAFETY
Infosys centre head Sunil Jose has raised the difficulties women employees face in getting safe accommodation facility. While other CEOs also backed him, the IT secretary pointed out that as per rules it is the responsibility of companies to provide housing to women employees. However, the CEOs insisted that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure safe residential infrastructure like hostels. At this point, the IT secretary said that the government might even consider strictly enforcing the rule that companies should provide secure staying facility for employees.
CRECHES IN ALL BUILDINGS
After Anne Soumya, director – HR of D&H, raised the need to have facilities like creches, he informed them that the government already had decided to allot space for a creche in all new IT buildings. He said as per norms the companies were supposed to provide such facilities. Since Technopark comprises of many small businesses, it won’t be practical. Hence the government will offer space free, and the companies should develop the infrastructure. Technopark CEO Hrishikesh Nair said that the scope of identifying space for a creche in existing building would be explored based on demand.
The other issues raised at the meeting were the need for more financial support to start-ups and skill upgradation initiatives. The IT secretary urged the chief executives to give specific inputs to the government on the component to be included in the IT policy for the development of the IT sector. GTech secretary Vijayakumar P. and CEO Renjith Ramanujam were also present.
New building at Technocity in 18 months
A two-lakh square-feet IT building will come up on the Technocity campus at Pallipuram within one and half years, Technopark chief executive officer Hrishikesh Nair said. He said that about 40 applications for space are pending now. "Works on the new building will begin soon," he said adding that the work on a new building, Shriya, earlier initiated on the Technopark premises, was put on hold for the time being. Mr Nair said that the proposed Taurus Downtown Technopark project was getting delayed with the project promoters taking no further steps.
“We have given repeated reminders and deadlines to them, the latest one for this March. Though they are not taking further steps, they are responding positively. We hope to make a decision on the matter this month as the company officials are coming down,” he said. The CEO also said that works of TCS and SunTech campuses at Technocity were expected to begin soon. He also said he was in talks with a private group on setting up hostel facility for women employees in the IT park. The Technopark could not directly take up the responsibility of running ladies hostels, he said.
