The Hindu Business Line : Software industry

Speaking at Nasscom 2004, The Infosys Chief Mentor, Mr N. R. Narayanamurthy, advised the Indian software industry: "From a long-term perspective, the industry would be able to strengthen its case if positioned as value creators of global corporations than merely as cost reducers or job stealers."

Point-scoring and knee-jerk reactions are the order of the day at the time of elections whether in the US or India; and hence the outcry in the US against outsourcing of jobs and the heightened reactions in India about legislative and other measures in the offing in the US.

India too may be losing jobs to such countries as China. It is reported that some Indian manufacturers of quartz clocks had recently shifted their entire manufacturing operations to China as that country is perceived to be a provider of more disciplined labour at lower costs. Others will follow suit as ties with China improve, as they are bound to.

Indian labour unions should ponder over the implications of this development deeply.

Kangayam R. Rangaswamy

Madison (US)

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