Premji urges techies to embrace social work

MUMBAI, INDIA: Wipro chairman Azim Premji today called on techies to take up social responsibilities as part of their jobs and contribute to the welfare of the society and also urged IT firms to take up green initiatives in a big way.

“The IT industry is one of the significant contributors to the society in way of contribution to GDP and employment generation. The industry has created to 2.5 million direct jobs and indirect employment to 10 million. The IT industry also provides more than 40 per cent of the incremental employment in the country,” Premji said addressing the Business with conscience session at the Nasscom India Leadership Forum 2010 here today.

“With the vast talent pool IT industries can make meaningful contribution to the society in the areas of primary education and environment protection,” he added.

Stressing on the role of the industry in social initiatives, the Wipro chairman said, though the IT industry has been a big contributor to the economy and not getting equal attention, the IT personnel cannot ignore their responsibilities towards the society.

Pointing finger towards the sorry state of affairs of primary education in India, Premji noted that studies conducted by the Wipro Foundation had revealed glaring lacunae in schools of rural India.

“Though the government sets aside about four per cent of the GDP towards primary education, the funds hardly reach the schools due to lack of execution capacity,” he added.

Green initiatives



Stating that water pollution was the biggest threat facing India, Premji also called on IT firms to take up green initiatives in a big way.

“Today we are seeing more and more campuses coming up with water guzzling lawn or buildings that have to use more power because of their designs,” he pointed out.

It has been proved that with green initiatives corporates can save up to 30 per cent of power. There are consultants who are ready to execute projects and charge as per the results. "But still there is reluctance, If more organization can concentrate on these issues and take up initiatives we can certainly make an impact", Premji stressed.