Reaching Out to Society, the Techie Way

What image does the term “techie” instantly evoke? Extremely busy, making tons of money, and obsession with “I, Me, and Myself”? Not entirely true, anymore.

IT professionals in Hyderabad are no longer too busy to spare a thought for the society’s underprivileged. They find time to traverse from their workstations and boardrooms to the neighborhood hospices, schools or NGOs for concrete social work.

While some are involved because of their company’s endeavors, others prefer to do it on a personal level, quietly.

D.V.S. Raju, CMD, VisualSoft Technologies Ltd., for instance, believes: “I cannot talk for the industry, but I want to help the underprivileged to the extent possible.”

Though VisualSoft is not involved in social work presently, Raju is. He pays for poor patients on a personal, quiet level. He is planning to set up a hospital for the aged.

Without disclosing details, Raju adds: “That’s my dream. I need to identify right people who can be associated with such project and who can make sure that it is successful. Alternatively, there are some generous and successful people in Hyderabad, who are trying to promote such idea collectively, and I am contemplating joining hands with them.”

Then, there’s Divakar Tantravahi, MD India Operations of Everypath.com, who contributes regularly to a fund he and a friend set up for a school in a village in Anantapur district.

For Raj B. Tadla, MD of Beyond Basiks Infotech Ltd., “social service” has a unique, interesting meaning. He believes that the Information Age requires people to keep themselves upgraded with the latest knowledge, skills or know-how. So, he helps people around him upgrade themselves, say, by enrolling for postgraduate courses or vocational training programs etc.

Some techies take part in programs initiated by their companies, which have graduated from checkbook charity and lip service.

Satyam Computer Services Ltd., for example, which decided to streamline its social work activity, is planning a long-term project -- imparting computer education to underprivileged children.

The company has already involved the spouses of Satyamites in the project. Satyam’s S.V.L. Narayanan says two training centers – one in Hyderabad and one in Bahadurpally village in city suburbs – will be set up, where about 10 to 15, literate underprivileged children, 16-21 years old, selected on the basis of an entrance test, will be provided free training in English and basic computers – data entry – for a minimum of three months.

“We will help them get placements in companies, or projects, or help them with entrepreneurial ventures,” Narayanan adds. Satyam Learning Center will contribute human resources to the project, expected to begin in a month.

Similarly, Visual Quest India is planning a small computer program for street children. VQI chief Birad Yajnik, says: “Keeping with company philosophy of "transforming dreams into reality,” the company intends to take the Internet to people who have perhaps never seen or even dreamed of seeing it. One such section could be street children.

“The Internet is all about graphics and this kind of program will be an opportunity to spark off a new thought process in these children and expose them to the world of opportunities that the Internet offers.” VQI employees will provide them help and training.

Likewise, Microsoft has introduced its “matching contribution” program in the development center here. The program, in which the company makes a contribution equivalent to that of an employee’s, for a social cause, is practiced only here, besides the Redmond office.

But, such programs are only a handful. Often, IT companies do not get involved in such activities because of shortage of human resources and time, besides the fact that they are very focused, outsourcing everything except their core activities.

As K.V. Prasad, Vice President, VisualSoft Technologies Ltd., says selfishness is still the driving force behind IT. In this Knowledge Economy, “I, Me, Myself,” is the biggest driving factor, he says, adding: “We need to draw a distinction between just lip service and granting endowments, to something concrete.”