Kolkata's IT hub logged out as Citu strikes city

For the first time, work at Salt Lake Sector V, the information technology (IT) hub of Kolkata, was disrupted by today's Citu-sponsored bandh.

All entry points to Sector V were blocked by Citu members and stickers which declared the sector as a public utility service, were virtually disregarded.

Citu supporters obstructed IT employees from entering Sector V and tore off the stickers issued by Webel, the nodal agency for IT and ITES investment in the state.

State IT minister, Manabendra Mukherjee, said, Citu activities definitely would have a negative impact on the image of Kolkata but, police intervened almost immediately to bring the situation under control.

He said, the state would have been better off without such obstructions but at the same time said that it was unlikely that it would have a lasting impact on the image of Kolkata.

Wipro ensured that all employees were picked up from their residences. However, cars were stopped in various parts of the city or tyres were deflated. There was also picketing close to the Wipro office.

Indu Khattar, who heads Wipro operations in Kolkata said, there were bad experiences in some parts of the city and there were also good experiences. For instance, the police escorted a car full of Wipro employees to the office, as they were stopped by some Citu supporters.

"Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should be supported in his good work,"she said. In the end, the attendance level in Wipro would stand at around 80 per cent.

BNKe Solutions, a major business process outsourcing (BPO) centre in Kolkata had to take great pains in ensuring that work was not disrupted.

Suresh Menon, chief executive officer (CEO), BNKe Solutions said, the Citu supporters had no regard for the stickers issued by Webel.

Cars were stopped at all entry points to Sector V and the situation in South Kolkata was no better.

In fact, he said, members of the Webel team which issued the stickers said, "We are issuing the stickers but, we will not be coming to office."

The attendance at BNKe was 92-93 per cent. Menon said, employees living on the outskirts of Kolkata were given the day off. "It is not cost effective for us to organise a pick-up for them" he said.

Globsyn had given their BPO employees the day off, which would be compensated on Saturday.

Bikram Dasgupta, chairman and CEO, Globsyn Technologies said, "We have a five-day week and we will work on Saturday." He said, it was no point operating with a 25-30 per cent attendance and hence the company decided to declared it a holiday.

At the state IT department, the only ones who made it to work, were IT minister and IT secretary, G D Gautama.

However, the blow to the sector would have been much greater had the rains not come in as the savior.