IT professionals rush to astrologers

PUNE'S Information Technology sector has been severely hit by the economic tsunami. Pink slips and salary slips have been haunting the employees across companies.
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To save their jobs and evade salary cuts, traumatised techies and working professionals are now making a beeline to crystal gazers, astrologers, numerologists and Fengshui consultants to reverse their dwindling fortunes.

Swetta Jumaani, a renowned numerologist has been receiving a number of calls from IT professionals since the last two months. People are seeking appointments due to job insecurity.

"Fear of being laid off and salary cuts are making them seek solace, solutions and reassurance," said Jumani.

Popular Fengshui consultant Sharda Karve's business has witnessed a boom of nearly 70 per cent.

People visiting her, include software professionals and employees from real estate and advertising agencies.

"Since all these sectors are in the grip of recession and slowdown, people are anxious about getting immediate solutions to their problems.

These people have taken huge loans for house and car when the economy was rosy. Now, when economy is on the downturn, their salaries have been cut which has badly affected their cash flow making it difficult for them to pay bank EMIs," she said.

Astrologers, too, are a most sought after group. Astrologer K Soni has witnessed 25 per cent increase in his business in the last two months. His clients are mostly businessmen hit by credit crunch and those who have dabbled inu00a0 the stock market.

He said, "About 60 per cent are businessmen, 20 per cent software professionals and 10 per cent are those who have put their money in stock market. They want to know when the economy will improve."

Besides several BPO employees who have been laid off or are on the verge of being given the pink slip are also visiting him.

Meanwhile, people visiting them see no harm. "Normally, I don't pray. But these days I visit the temples online. There is also no harm in trying things like changing the direction of the way I sleep or wearing a piece of stone that gives me a feeling of comfort? After all, what do I lose?" says Prashant Kulkarni, a techie by profession.

What's their advice?

Swetta
My advice ranges from changing signature to wearing lucky jewellery to a change of spelling in their names.

Soni
I offer my advice after studying their horoscopes as planets exert direct influence on the human beings. The position of the planets has a direct bearing on the mental condition of humans.

Karve
Advice includes changing the direction of sleep, enhan-cing the career corner of the house or making proper use of five elements in their house.

Blind faith

Narendra Dabholkar, founder-president of Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, a rationalist organization, considers astrology, Fengshui, numerology and vastu as nothing but fraud.

"This only shows utter failure of our educational system in creating scientific temper. If people are going towards astrologers, fengshui consultants, numerologists and vastu consultants, it is because of uncertainty and fear that drives people towards these persons who are able to give them consolation, hope and reassurance," he said.

He said people should know that there is no co-relation between economic slowdown or planetary positions.