IT industry questions future role of IT.in

Bad luck (the rains), bad leadership (Gowda's outbursts) combined to virtually kill IT.in. Other than this, over the last couple of years the meet was growing in size and the participation all but losing focus. That longer trend and the latest mishap combined to pose an existential question over the future of IT.in.

Even as the eighth edition of Bangalore IT.in 2005 came to a tame end, industry observers are starting to question how effective the event will be over the years.

"This time around rain was an excuse but it will be tough for the IT department to continue with the annual event if things do not improve. There should be a complete rethink on how this will be leveraged further to generate business interest over the next few years,? the CEO of a software services firm said.

This is a suggestion the IT department will have to look into as curtains fell on the washed out Bangalore IT.in 2005.

After a thundering start provided by Deve Gowda to the Bangalore IT.in 2005, it was left to the state IT secretary Shankaralinge Gowda to save the fading halo of this much-touted event. Nothing much he could do though.

The facts were against him. The lack of infrastructure is still looming large and the spat between Deve Gowda and Infosys' chairman and mentor Narayana Murthy is still simmering. Rains did not spare the event either. Around 12,000 business visitors came, 15,000 general visitors trooped in to take stock of the mela as against 25,000 and 40,000 respectively last year.

IT secretary and STPI director B V Naidu put up a brave face though. "The 150 Indian and 120 overseas firms who were part of the event are satisfied with the response and they are sure to benefit from the event. The large overseas delegations made effective networking efforts and business will start to flow," said Naidu.