IT  & ITES are like Greek and Latin to me. However last Diwali, when I was holed up at Banglore for 4 days, I understood what ITES really meant.

A day prior to Diwali, I decided to take my brother -in -laws car from Banglore to Kadapa and back to attend to a small work at one of our projects. I asked him to arrange for a driver. I returned back by 8 PM  after a 15 hour trip of which 11 were spent in travelling. I then  asked the driver –for the first time – what his charges were. He coolly asked for 2000/-; I thought I did not hear him properly. He once again firmly replied 2000/- I recollected for sure  that the car was my brother in laws and the fuel bill was footed by me. Only the drivers charge needed to be paid.

I could see that my in-law was at discomfort seeing me shocked. He said that it was the standard rate for a good driver in Banglore.  I would have spent only 300 bucks for the driver -back at Maharashtra or Gujarat. Rs.2000/- was exorbitant. I coughed up the money as. I did not want to disappoint Geetha. I cannot shout at her brother.

I still am not sure if Rs.2000/- was ok for a driver in Banglore for 15 hour outstation trip

The next day I went to Madiwala market to make some last minute Diwali purchases for the Puja. All garlands were priced at Rs.150 and above. I was able to see quite a few IT couples come purchase at whatever price and go back.

While discussing the above with my in-laws, they told that affluency in the IT sector has attracted all the students in the southern states. As a result,there is no one left to do other works. So people from North east are now taking up those jobs in south. Any localite still remaining in these jobs is now charging a premium.

The IT industry has had its role in increasing affluency of families. The surrounding society comprising of traders, drivers, hoteliers etc are also benefitting from this. Yes ITES – means “IT Enabling Society” to live prosperously.

We rarely come across mention about North East states in daily mainstream news. It is a forgotten part of India. Even a bomb blast news is ignored as if it happened in distant Somalia. However the law of economics is bringing India closer. We need people from North East to serve us Idly,wada and sambar. .Most hotels in south – even in small towns are full of them. We need them for many of our daily works. They need us to bring back smiles at their homes.   IT has  Enabled Society ( ITES) to come together.

IT has done India good. I also feel that the cost of living in South has gone higher than the rest of India. Thanks to IT.