Date:25/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/25/stories/2008012551460300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Supportive system for women at workplace sought

Staff Reporter

Event organised by KIET
Women told not to fall prey to circumstances

Kakinada: Women have proved in ample measure their capability to accomplish tasks which are considered the male bastion but most of them are still unable to reach and sustain themselves at the highest level due to various reasons. Domestic burdens hamper their progress to a large extent. They are also bogged down by the natural process of growth which poses both physical and mental challenges. It is therefore imperative that women have necessary supportive systems at the work place, particularly in the information technology (IT) sector where performance matters above anything else, said V Nirupa Rani, Vice-Chancellor of Adikavi Nannayya University.

Inaugurating the national level technical fiesta CONCOURS - 2008 organised by the Kakinada Institute of Engineering and Technology (KIET) at Rangaraya medical college auditorium here on Thursday, Nirupa Rani said the IT sector has been making rapid strides in India but there has to be emotional bonding between the companies and their employees and within the workforce lest the spirit of team work should take a beating. In addition to offering incentives like the Employees Stock Option Scheme (ESOPS), companies should understand various other needs of the employees and promote their interests.

Speaking as the guest of honour on `Women and IT’, Sudha Raju, Regional Vice-President of Computer Society of India (CSI), said all the developed countries would have acute shortage of human resources in the working age group by the year 2020. Contrary to this, India would have a larger talent pool in the productive age of around 25 but the question is how to leverage the opportunities.

Former director of DRDO CR Chakravarthy said Indian women aspiring for a fruitful career in the IT should take the world’s first computer programmer Lady Lovelace as a role model. KIET Chairman PV Viswam said every Indian family has a successful team leader in the form of mother and her life offers a lot of valuable lessons. Women should have no compunction to assert themselves at the work place where most of them still play the second fiddle to their male colleagues despite possessing the requisite skills.

Later, Sailaja of Infosys and Archana from the Tata Consultancy Services dwelt at length on today’s theme Women and IT.