The invasion of Information Technology lifted the economic conditions and living of thousands of people across India. One could see students scrambling for IT seats in Engineering leaving all other sectors behind. Jobs were there for asking and big companies like Tatas and Infosys employed thousands of young graduates and made a special glitter for IT industry.
The recent melt down and recession in the U S and Europe forced many companies to close their shutters or downsize the operations which forced many out of their jobs and look for alternate avenues. The U S based companies were lavish in their pay scales and hospitality and treated their employees royally! Now, once out of jobs, these youngsters are unable to fit themselves in the Indian environment and find themselves as fish out of water! The pay scales are low and there is no pampering of the staff with unlimited food and beverages.
My friend was on the look out for a household help and one fine morning the door bell rang! My friend's wife encountered a smartly dressed lady who enquired if they needed any domestic help? Reacting happily at the offer, my friend's wife asked if she had any experience and who had hired her services earlier? Pat came the reply, "Infosys"! My friend joined the conversation and asked the reason for leaving Infosys! The smart lady responded immediately citing Recession and the melt down trends due to which there was retrenchment of jobs. My friend asked the salary she was expecting for which she replied she was getting Rs 12000/- in the company and left it to their wise thinking as to what should be her salary? My friend and his wife were shocked and taken aback and sent her away but kept wondering as to how these IT companies had affected the life of people who were leading a life that could afford hiring a household help until a few years back?
In Chennai, it has become so difficult to get hold of a qualified electrician or a plumber to attend to household works. I managed to get someone to fix the leaking tap in my house only to find him driving an Auto Rikshaw during the day time!! I confronted him to clear my doubts if he was the same person who came to my house in the guise of a plumber, he said "Yes" and added further that he is also a painter and could paint my house walls and doors!! I was absolutely shocked to hear this as it would mean that he is a jack of all trades and money was his sole aim!! This is what is happening in Chennai where it is hard to find any specialists for a particular job!
My relatives came from Delhi and hired an Auto rikshaw who charged a flat Rs 300/-(after bargaining) to commute a distance of about 15 kms in a vehicle that runs on CNG (compressed natural gas)which costs about Rs 27 for a kilogram that can run the vehicle for about 30 kms!! Imagine the kill that these men make in the city with their exorbitant fares!
All these expenses sky rocketed only because of the IT industry where the young tech were willing to pay anything just to realise their wants at that particular time. One of the occupants of the building who had about 25 IT people working suddenly decided to shift their operations to Ahmadabad as he could save a few lacs of Rupees every month as the labour came cheaper there! My inquisitiveness forced him to divulge that he could hire a IT guy for about Rs 6000/- in Ahmadabad in comparison to about Rs 12000/- that was being paid here in Chennai! Many such industries are closing down and shifting their operations to other states where it is cheaper to hire a labour. The commercial rentals have come down drastically in the city and lacks lustre. It is said "if the U S sneezes, the world gets cold"! Every one here hopes that U S will tide over this recession crisis soon so that Indian Economy also survives and thrives along??
well written Raju enjoyed reading the above Blog..keep them coming
ReplyDeletePrabha