Lucknowites extend support to TCS staff
Citizens and families of TCS employees take out march to protest the company’s decision to shift over 2,000 staff to other centres.
Lucknowites have openly come out in support of TCS employees who are being shifted to Noida and other centres from the Lucknow office.
On Sunday morning, a number of citizens along with family members of TCS employees organised a march on the Riverfront road to protest the shifting of more than 2,000 employees to other centres, which would be a loss of face for the state government besides depriving city youths of jobs in the IT sector.
People of all age groups – children, elderly and youths – walked with ‘Save TCS’ placards in their hands.
The citizens said Lucknow had given love and support to the company during the last 33 years, but all of a sudden the decision of transferring all employees to other places was surprising. “The company has ditched the city when it was about to turn into an IT hub,” they said.
“Once TCS walks out, it would be difficult for the state government to get other software companies to open their offices in Lucknow . The local IT talent will have no option but to move out of the city,” they lamented.
A city-based NGO, ‘Gomti Connect’ also extended support to the TCS employees and promised to raise the issue at every platform.
The TCS issue has become important for the state government and local MP Rajnath Singh as the company’s decision to shift operations out of Lucknow would be a big blow to his constituency.
According to reports, the home minister sought a detailed report on the shifting of TCS and the efforts of the state government to stop the company from going ahead with its decision to shift operations to Noida.
Read more: TCS employees hold candle light protest in Lucknow
During the Samajwadi party regime, IT city was developed here with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore by HCL. But after 100 days of BJP government, TCS – which was here for the last 33 years – decided to move out.
Reports about TCS shifting out of Lucknow came when the Yogi Adityanath government announced its new industrial policy. It was at the behest of chief minister that ‘employment’ was added in the title before the state cabinet approved Uttar Pradesh Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy, 2017.