IT firms ask women to go home early

Nayna Pujari rape and murder case prompts authorities to enforce strict guidelines for safety of employees

They are leaving nothing to chance. After the gruesome rape and murder of software professional Nayna Pujari (27) in the first week of October, IT companies are taking precautions to ensure the safety of women.

They are asking women employees to leave early from work and even providing them with laptops, swanky mobile phones and Internet connections to enable them to work from home.

A female software programmer from a company in Dhole Patil Road, told MiD-DAY, "After the Pujari episode, we are being asked to work from home rather than stay back late."

Nayna, who worked withu00a0 Synechron Technology, went missing on October 7 after she could not get a cab.

She took a lift in a cab, which had a substitute company driver and security personnel from her organisation, travelling in the car. She was found dead a day later in Rajgurunagar, some 30 km away.

Gender never mattered in India's IT sector, but the murder of Nayna Pujari (27) earlier this month has changed the scenario. IT companies are now putting in place certain rules, specifically for female employees.

Restrictions
Synechron, where Pujari worked, no longer permits its 150 female employees to stay back late for work. The firm is also distributing laptops and blackberry phones with Internet connections to them, so that they can work from home.

According to a source in Synechron, "A female software programmer, who stayed back till 9.30 pm for a corporate social responsibility project was pulled up by her team leader, who in turn, was asked for an explanation from his seniors. Fed up, the team leader asked permission to not include women in his team - to avoid any more hassle."

Another female software programmer from a company in Dhole Patil Road told MiD DAY, "After the Pujari episode, we are being asked to work from home rather than stay back late."
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Not true
However, industry leaders deny gender bias. Dr Ganesh Natarajan, vice chairman and MD, Zensar Technologies Ltd said, "We do our utmost to provide a secure environment. We look forward to participating with other stakeholders in enhancing the security for our industry community." Ravi Pandit, MD, KPIT said, "After the Wipro incident two years ago, we put in place processes for the protection of women employees. Police check the backgrounds of drivers, women never board the cars alone, and are never dropped last."

Deepak Shikarpur, IT head of MCCIA, said, "Many software companies outsource the cab service to contract vendors, who appoint drivers without verifying their background. Unless this changes, such incidents will continue to take place."