'BPM sector stares at $1 bn loss in 3 weeks on diesel ban'

The business process management (BPM) sector to hit a USD 1 billion potential loss if the ban on diesel taxis in Delhi NCR region continues for 2-3 weeks more, industry body Nasscom has said.
"There will be a potential USD 1 billion loss to the business process management (BPM) sector if ban on diesel cabs continues for 2-3 weeks," Senior Vice President of Nasscom, Sangeeta Gupta said here.
Nasscom, which is seeking a delay in the implementation of the ban, also plans to approach the Supreme Court in the next couple of days regarding the matter.
Nasscom representatives have already met the Delhi Police and various central ministries, including the Ministry of Information Technology, and discussed the issues facing the industry in the wake of ban on diesel cabs in Delhi-NCR, resulting in non-availability of reliable transport options.

"We have met the Ministry of Information Technology, and requested them to champion this across other ministries. Separately, we have also written to Heavy Industries Ministry, Transport and Environment Ministries, Delhi Police and Delhi Government," she added.
In an end to the road for diesel taxis in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), the Supreme Court last week refused to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for their conversion into less-polluting CNG mode.

The ban on diesel taxis in Delh-NCR region has brought the BPM (formerly BPO) industry almost to a standstill.
The BPM industry in NCR provides direct and indirect employment to over 1 million people.

"With 38 per cent women employees in our industry, their safety has always been a big concern to us...We are mandated to provide transportation for home drop to employees working after 8 PM. In absence of any reliable public transport, complying with this statutory guideline is impossible," Vice Chairman Nasscom and MD of Quatrro Global Services, Raman Roy said.
There are five hours of downtime in last two days because of the ban and about 35 cabs are impounded and 20 cabs already challaned, he said adding parking is becoming an issue as employees are coming on their own vehicles.

An emergency meeting was also called by Nasscom today. It was attended by all players of BPM industry and issue of implementation of the ban was discussed.
The proposed changes in the UK visa policy come just days
before British PM Theresa May lands in India on November 6 for a three-day visit.
Nasscom said that India and UK have been natural business allies, and enjoy a continued association, where free movement of skilled talent is the cornerstone of growth.
"Temporary placement of highly-skilled individuals into the UK provides a significant economic boost yet has a negligible impact on net migration," it added.

The relationship between the UK and the Indian ICT sector has seen a step change in recent years and the shared goal of being global centres for innovation makes the UK and India natural partners in technology, it said.
"We will continue to urge the UK government to realise that both countries stand to benefit massively from a fresh trade-based approach," it added.