Three Indian Cities in Top Emerging IT Destinations

KPMG, the audit, advisory and tax cosultation gloabl company has released its  survey of emerging 31 Information Technology (IT)destinations across the world. Indian cities comparatively backward till now in terms of IT have featured in the list. They include Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Nagpur, three cities from three different states. 

The report is titled-'Exploring Global Frontiers- the new Emerging Destinations'. It says that as the existing favourite locations for shared services and outsourcing have started to become saturated the newer cities are emerging, offering new and improved incentive packages and talent, that are better geared for the IT and ITeS industry.

KPMG Sourcing Advisory services in India Partner-in-Charge Viral Thakker is quoted by PTI as saying, "Realising the growth potential of the IT-BPO industry, Tier II cities in India have now jumped on the sourcing bandwagon and can be projected as viable destinations." 

The report was launched at this week’s NASSCOM outsourcing event in India. KPMG claims to have identified 31 cities which are rapidly emerging as leading pretenders to the BPO crown held by the traditional powerhouses such as Bangalore, Chennai or Shanghai. The full list includes 10 locations in the Americas (Buenos Aires, Campinas, Curitiba, Calgary, Winnipeg, Santiago, Guadalajara, Queretaro, Boise, Indianapolis); 10 in Asia-Pacific (Brisbane, Changsha, Hangzhou, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Nagpur, Penang, Davao City, Iloilo City, Ho Chi Minh City); and 11 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Sofia, Zagreb, Cairo, Port Louis, Belfast, Gdansk, Cluj-Napoca, Rostov-on-Don, Belgrade, Tunis and Lviv). 

The report has a map showing emerging and emerged destinations in India. Pune is shown as emerged destination in the map. Besides that Bangalore, Mumbai, National Capital Region, Chennai and Hyderabad are termed as emerged destinations. It also says that many Tier II and III cities in India have potential to attract IT-BPO investment. 

The full report is available here 

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A Drive to the Discipline

"The employees of the call centres indulge in sexual acts in their premise and we have no objection to it. But they should behave properly in our cabs. That is why we have made this code of conduct to be followed in all BPO employees," says Nana Kshirsagar, heading Maharashtra Call Centre Chalak Malak Sanghtana (association of owners and drivers of call centres.) The organisation, which was formed some two months ago, has called for a strike on 19 May which means on Monday most of the call centre vehicles will remain off the road.

While Kshirsagar has attributed various reasons for the strike, including getting raw treatment in terms of payment and facilities, his organisation has finalised a code of conduct for the call centre employees who travel by the cabs. The code is meant to bring ‘discipline’ in the employees of the BPOs and according to Kshirasagar, "to avoid untoward incidences which have taken place in the past."

"The conduct of these employees should be scrutinized on the lines of Rajneesh followers. Our drivers suffer most because of their behaviour. We have been witness to hugging, kissing and all sorts of acts. That’s why we are demanding this code," said Kshirsagar.

Some drivers attested Kshirsagar’s claims. Namdeo Ghorpade, whose cab is running for IBM domestic BPO on Fursungi road said that drivers get raw deal in BPOs. While maltreatment at the hands of company and employees is rampant, it is the behaviour in the cab itself that is a cause of concern. "We do not get enough sleep. Still employees insist on going. They do act in such a manner that we get distracted. We are witness to such acts."

Salim Khan, who plies cab in Vishrantwadi area has another story. He said, "Companies does not provide us a lateral list of pick up and drops. Areas in different directions are given to us. When two or thre men-women employees are in vehicle, they talk obscenity with intention. But we are not supposed to see their acts or hear their conversations. Glasses of Tavera cabs are being covered with cloth, that is a regular practise."

Still, some like Santosh Jain, who plies cab in Hinjwadi area seem not encountered this behaviour. He said, "I am in this strike for payment rise. I have no problem with behaviours of BPO employees."
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Code of Conduct for employees

n Employees should not idulge in obscene behaviour in cabs.

n Ganja, hard drink, beer, cigarete, Hukka should not be consumed in the cabs.
n Women employees sitting in the cabs should wear clothes according to Indian culture.
n They should not use mobiles in running vehicles.
n Co-passengers and friends should not be taken in in vehicles.
n The vehicle should be used only for plying between home and office.
n Driver should not be pursued to drive to other locations.
n Insistence on playing music in the vehicle should be allowed.
n Conversation with drivers should be done only in Marathi and Hindi.

n Personal task should not be given to drivers.
n Driver should not be made to wait anywhere without reason.
n Friendship with drivers should be avoided and conversation with him should be minimum.
n Employees should not sleep in cabs.
n Vehicle should be cleaned by employees in case of vomitting, urinating and spitting.
n Employees should carry an identy card with him.

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A ghastly act, but a possible reaction too…!

The rape and murder of a call centre employ here in Pune has shocked everyone. This is not the first incident but the its very reoccurence shows an inherent lethargy in the system.

The victim, Jyoti Choudhary’s body was found in a roadside farm yesterday near the Gahunje village near Talegaon Dabhade in Pune district. Primary investigations have revealed that she was raped and subsequently murdered by the driver of the company cab Purushottam Borate and his accomplice Pradeep Kokade. Both of them took the cab to the village saying that they have one employ to pick. Since Jyoti was speaking to her friend in Bangalore, she did not noticed this. It was only after some time that she knew she was mislead. But it was too late by then.

As the contact with Jyoti was severed midway, her friend contacted her sister in Delhi who in turn contacted the relatives in Pune. Jyoti was living with her sister and brother- in-law in Pune. Yesterday was her last day in the company. Police had a complaint by her brother-in-law. Meanwhile this incident has once again brought to fore the insecurity in the BPO sector and especially the question of night shift for women. Some have even questioned the role of the company or the security measure taken so far. While the deceased person ought to get the full sympathy, the behavioral pattern of these company employees should also be put to test. This point has long been overlooked.

India was long known for its poverty. It is one sector in which even today the country has done little to boast. The relative prosperity we have seen is there thanks to BPO and IT sector. While this affluence attracted hoards of new people, who are young and energetic all the same, it has also created an unbridgeable gulf between them and the lesser blessed people. The yesteryear jealousy between haves and have not has now transferred to this level.

The driver and his accomplice apprehended in the above crime are a just example of this argument. Their names betray their humble origins in the Maval area of Pune. The wealth and opulence of their passengers, (considering that they ferry these employees daily) and the somewhat liberal attitude of the folks might have imbibed a feeling of envy in them. That might have prompted them to do such a ghastly act. Of course, this is an argument and the criminal bent of mind a person might have a different effect on a whole.

What I only want to say is that this point should not be overlooked.

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