Karnataka Bandh: TCS, Infosys, and Wipro Advise Workers to Work from Home

Major Indian IT firms such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and others have encouraged Bengaluru-based workers to work from home on Tuesday, 26 September. Several local NGOs called for a Karnataka bandh on Tuesday to protest the Karnataka state government's plan to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Not only IT firms, consultancies and startups based in Bengaluru have encouraged workers to work from home

PwC, one of the Big Four accountancy firms, emailed Bengaluru staff saying, "The office will be closed on 26 September." It is recommended that employees work from home." Furthermore, an employee from HSR Layout who works in an ed-tech startup and resides in the same neighbourhood remarked that the area is less crowded than it typically is. "HSR Layout is buzzing daily because of the many startups based here, but today, it appears very quiet." "The roads are clear, there is no traffic, and, of course, the offices are closed," she observed.

Why was Bengaluru Bandh on Tuesday?

Bengaluru, known as India's IT and startup capital, has around 3,500 tech enterprises and 79 tech parks closed due to the demonstrations. On 26 September, Tuesday, many farmers and pro-Kannada organisations called for a Bengaluru bandh over the Cauvery water issue with Tamil Nadu. The protesting organisations want the Karnataka government to stop releasing water from the Cauvery River to the adjacent state.

Several Bengaluru-based technology corporations, including Google, Walmart, IBM, and Accenture, have urged their workers to work from home on 26 September in response to a bandh called by farmers and pro-Kannada organisations over the Cauvery water issue with Tamil Nadu. Although public transport is expected to be disrupted, metro services will operate as usual. Some private schools have begun to offer classes online. Considerable organisations have asked for a Karnataka bandh on 29 September 2023. Therefore, significant misunderstanding exists regarding who supports the bandh on which day.

About Karnataka Bandh on 29 September?

Farmers in Karnataka have been protesting since the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) ordered the state to release 5000 cusecs of water to adjacent Tamil Nadu for 15 days beginning 13 September. Some Kannada organisations have called for a Karnataka bandh on 29 September under the banner 'Kannada Okkuta.' As a result, there needs to be more clarification regarding who supports the bandh on which day.

Meanwhile, the Ola-Uber Drivers' Association announced today that they would fully support the Karnataka bandh planned by pro-Kannada organisations on 29 September but will not support the bandh called tomorrow. "Our services will resume as usual tomorrow." "This decision was made today in the presence of pro-Kannada and various organisations," the association stated, adding that drivers face financial difficulties and believe they cannot afford to miss two work days.