IT: Think of expanding to 2 tier cities

Breathing in high spirits from my previous post, I'd like to rant lambaste, and vent out my thoughts on the initial phase post training in one of the highly sough indian IT industry. To name employers -  TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Polaris and the list can go on.

This post attempts to shed light on beginning and settling down in the new space, in an IT company.

Unarguably IT industry has provided jobs more than any other domain. It has generated jobs so rapidly in so less a time span that wouldn't have been dared by any other sector. Next, IT industry has been significantly contributing to the Economy. With dollar strengthening against Rupee, they shall continue to mint money, and so shall the employees. With annual hikes there comes purchasing power, be it in jewelry, much fancied smart phones, real estate, or you name it, and so does the government earn from tax. In other sense money flows.

Most of these employers are located in metropolises, given to the fact that their nature of work demands regular colloquy with different groups. Travels, arrangements, and a plethora of stuffs which are only accessible in major cities. 

After fueling in fresher with dreams to excel at the work place, embrace and overcome different difficulties training centres disperse their lot to different cities to finalize their base location, get assigned to a project (client), to learn, harness their capabilities.  Of course, post re-location travel fares are remunerated by employer, nonetheless, before that comes a daunting and horrifying task of apartment hunting.  

Apartment hunting is a challenge for many and following reasons:

1. Most big cities if not all, have a repulsive system to get a house on rent. To speak of, for example - Mumbai, city of dreams, tenants are to deposit a huge sum of INR 80,000 to 100,000 varying from location, house specification - for security deposit, then a month's rent in advance, and pay a month's amount to the broker who did nothing but have been a pimp between tenants and land lord to seal the deal. How is that supposed to happen with INR 15-20K's pay and little  no savings? 

Of course, to assist, employer does provide you a loan to overcome with these financial arrangements with 0% interest, an EMI of substantial amount per month. But if there's already a deduction applied for the training facilitated of INR ~3-4K, tell me dear so called HRs and upper management how would the poor employee dare to add another deduction? 

2. Again, taking example from Mumbai, most societies have a disdainful look against bachelors. Many societies don't allow bachelors as tenants.Well, the reasons cited are fair and true enough, but would the owners be buying apartment should their son/daughter faces similar situation in another city earning a hand-to-mouth pay?

3. The rental lease is to be renewed every 12 months, with a appreciation of ~10% in rent (not applicable to all tenants, lords, cities, ...). The newly agreed amount, again to be paid to broker for finalizing and securing  the agreement.

If not renewed, then tenants would follow the same ridiculous cycle of broker, deposit, and advance.

4. All apartment hunting has to be done post, and pre office hours, for the employee is feared suppressed by the ruthless RMG (Resource Management Group). Sigh, shall hold my tongue on these RMGs. Now, if the office hours are from 9 am to 5-6 am, add another min ~30-45 mins of travel both side, how does an employee look out place? 

Second, all these apartment hunt is done by employee at his/her expenses for public commute, burning a giant hole in the pocket. I've a had hole through which I could put my feet in it. Mostly they use auto (rickshaw) to save time, and get over with the process, and unpack luggage. 

Of course, employers does provide you a big vacation of 5-6 days post training and before reporting to the city office allocated. This time is to be used for travel between the cities, hunt apartment down, and what not. 

5. Employers seldom provide accommodation once training is done. I fear, they would again deduct money should you use any of the facilities. You can get reimbursement for your stay for initial xyz days, amount not to exceed abc amount. These days, and amount are nothing but trivial for these metros. To a newly joined employee with an existing and mounting burden of getting him/herself to tie to a project, he/she starts venoming. 

6. Employee has no choice, control over his/her assigned relocation, initially. That is understandable for there are an estimated 100,000-300,000 employees that are to be looked after by the management. Entertaining any requests in change of location is senseless. 

The list doesn't end and wouldn't, perhaps. The hurdles are numerous, and situations vary from person to person. 

There are internal portals provided by organization, where requests for wanted and looking for apartment, other household odds and ends can be found; which no doubt is a big relief, and many times are of great help. The time seems so little to understand, use and get a hold of these things at first in a new and strange city.  Darn it! 

The above pattern of broker, deposit is present from a time unknown, and there seems to be no remedy to it, not in near or distant future. Nevertheless, there are different trajectories that can be taken to allay and appease freshers.

Only a handful of people are involved in these formal meetings, travel and are in the position of direct decision making, addressing issues of the company. In other words, a vast count of employees don't and won't even get in the vicinity of utilizing much resources available in metros, which employers boast about. Don't believe me? Last I know of, Mumbai alone has more than 23 different TCS offices, and I'm sure it would have increased undoubtedly. The main office is at Fort, Nariman point. How many people work at the head office? Couple hundreds or handful of thousands.! Give some thought for the remaining 10s of thousands, for God's sake you morons! 

In these times of globalization, and digital age where most of the work is done on internet through mails, conference calls it would be wise to establish offices in 2 tier cities such as Baroda, Surat, Indore (work is ongoing for mega launch of Infosys at Indore), Bhopal, and many more can be named from different states. They have a very decent and manageable cost of living, and are devoid of awful intricacies mentioned in the post above (not that I'm aware of). 

Second,  all metros have real estate prices at sky touching rending rates. Moving to 2 tier cities would give employers a respite, and also give an opportunity to cities to harness their latent resources, bring in investment, build infrastructure, and offer locals to make money. Needless to say, this would reduce ever ballooning population in metros. As far as I know, the most crucial entity for IT companies is internet, and a vast space to cater to the infrastructural needs. Remember Google was founded in a garage?

Moreover, pay and hike could also be decided based on the base location of employee. Any hike, or single digit hike is nothing but scanty in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, contrary to small cities. This would allow employers to save their money, too.! Thus, this is a win-win situation for employees and employers, both.

As it is said - it is easier said than done. Nevertheless, it's important to evolve, and adapt as time and finances dictate, and address affairs for the benefits of employees. The obstacles for moving in to these 2 tier cities would be countless, and many of which would be unheard, it is upto the management to consider, decide and implement such changes. After all who am I to say to multi billion dollar groups?  Sigh.

The views presented above are personal, and aren't intended to hurt, disrepute any of the mentioned organization in any way.