INFOSYS: IT IS TIME TO PAY BACK

While addressing the meeting organaised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Chennai, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishanan, among others has indicated that there are problems for expansion particularly with regard to land acquisition, air and telecom connectivity and other infrastructure support. For more than decade the Center as well as various state governments has provided the necessary support by way allotting land at confessional rate, waiver of stamps fee, income tax waiver and other concessions through STPs. Infosys is also is one of the beneficiary of such concession which has made the company what it is today. The company is sitting on cash equallent to almost $2 billion rupees. The founding directors and other senior executives of the company are each worth more than few hundred crores. The company boosts of creating thousands millionaire employees. In spite of getting adequate support from the government from time to time, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishan has chosen to blame the government for inadequate availability of land and other infrastructure facilities in tier I and II cities as the reason for delay in expansion. The czars of I T industry instead of blaming government should buy the land at market price (as being done by other industries) and build roads and infrastructure at their own cost as a token of gratitude for the benefits enjoyed so far from the governments. The cash rich Infosys should take a lead in this social corporate responsibility.