[Assam] IBM: a MNC turned mental/psychological torture camp and Human Right violation

[Ritutapan Borah]

Hello Dr. Das,

You are right; definitely your mail was of disturbing in nature.

I worked for IBM for 2 long years as S/W engineer. And I can tell you from
my experience that, the details you are giving are far ... far from reality.

Compared to other IT companies (especially Indian MNCs); IBM is among the
most open-cultured, flexible organization with due respect to work-life
balance and flexible time.

I fear, your study (?) was quite flawed -- in the sense that -- you are not
mentioning about any other IT companies. Please do a *comparative study* in
your free time. You should consult someone who has seen in and out of at
least 2-3 IT companies in India and also IBM (If I am not wrong, you deal
more with Govt. employees in HAL etc more than IT people). I can bet, you
may have to repent for sending this mail with not-so-comprehensive
conclusions.

Besides major part of your analysis is more to do with PG owners in
Bangalore, not any employer.

The bottomline (on somewhat lighter note) I would like to put here is that
-- IT professional's life in India is not heaven but mostly like hell. But,
if you draw a line from hell to heaven  -- IBM should be placed at a point
towards the heaven only compared to most of other counterparts.


On 1/4/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS <biku006 at yahoo.co.in> wrote:
>
> Dear friends,
>
> This mail of mine might be disturbing in nature  We have lot of big boss
> here and would love to inform the interior base scene too to bring up well
> being of their employees.
>
> I come across various categories of people from society as my patient for
> consultations and treatment and during this humankind service I found the
> following as a result of observation.
>
> IBM is the oldest brand name in computer segment and thus turning into a
> mega MNC worldwide. But day by day it is found to be the worst nightmare to
> Indian Mental health, Psychology and cause of dark future of Indian youth.
> The reason:-
>
> On routine it is found to attract rural young stars who dream a good well
> paid job and life ahead with the brand name IBM. So they do come and join as
> trainee. But the inside view of so pathetic for Indian new generation that
> none could ever imagine. Say Rupalee,Kavita,Pubalee,Babrubahan (Name
> changed) from another end of Indian village(like from Assam etc) did joined
> as trainee either at Airport Rd, Hebbal flyover Jn,Banerghatta Rd etc
> etc.They got accommodations in PG at various places. The PG means 2
> bedroom flats being converted into 6-7 beds tiny bunkers with no table or
> chair inside other than a bed ONLY. The small kitchen is also being made one
> cabin. The rent varies from Rs.5500 per month with only veg food and most
> of the time due to lack of times, all the occupants do dine out or in the
> office. So the PG owner breathes well. From 6 PG they get Rs. 31,800.00 Pm
> and don't pay any income tax or service tax. Salary ranges from 16000-20000
> pm with TDS.Majority do
> study their Engineering with big loan and the recovery amount stands at 6,
> 600.00 pm.Amount at hand if salary is Rs.18000-6,600-5500= 5,900 to live
> in Bangalore and eat good food and other expenditures. Plus the TDS amount.
> (Knowing all these I fear that I am no more medical professional to talk for
> humanity or good diet to them).
>
> Now look at the very important Psychic effects to the Indian new
> generation youth:- (I did studied highly on IBM and so placing these data
> and I am at no cost to disclose the true identity other than to Govt
> bodies).IBM got GYM trainers who themselves are not well trained or
> experienced with medical sciences. They are someone like Michael Jackson or
> John Abraham .Some employee was asked to run on the automatic treadmill or
> other heavy exercise to keep fit. There was injury and the Instructor kept
> asking to continue exercise so that the pain will go. Human anatomy or
> capability was ignored. There was severe Bi-Lateral ligament tear in the
> knee where immediate rest, Hospitalization and surgical interventions needed
> under an orthopaedic. But the so called senior Indian Manager's told them
> that they will loose job if got admitted to hospital or take rest at home
> under medical advise and loose salary. Due to such scary comments definitely
> these peoples psychology never allow
> to loose the job keeping view of their parent's burden. They continued to
> work with limping stage. At workplace the so called manager did gave them
> more job and kept asking to do more. Average they do work for 10-16 hours.
> No holidays for newly joined ones, they work same way till Saturday.
> Sometimes do call on Sundays too in guise of part of training.
>
> My one relative from Assam,a too young boy, did join IBM few years back
> after his BE and he cried and cried till he left the job. He was tortured
> mentally such way that he failed to sleep for an hour also. The manager used
> to call him over mobile all the time(even at midnight 2400 hrs) as like POW
> (Prisoner of War).He was even unable to visit my home-1 km away from his
> office and room! Now-
>
> They are not allowed to use their personal emails from office. All
> strictly prohibited to communicate with rest of the world or to family
> members, friends etc. And the company email id usage is also restricted to
> company use only. All have been barred by the managers who in turn keep
> walking near them for any usage the manager says- "whole future is there to
> email or use internet. Now you work hard day and night and concentrate on
> company profit." Leave are far cry!
>
> The food provided is not at all good. All American (double in cost
> comparing to existing market price) style high fatty junk food with more
> cholesterol etc. Like Pizza, Burger, cocoa- which are not at all meant for
> Indian health or condition .What food these PG owners give are also too bad-
> no nutrition or taste. As the employee come too late in the night to room by
> 2200 hrs or so, they need to get up early to get ready and leave the room by
> 0900 hrs and run hurriedly for workplace leaving breakfast etc.
>
> NOW- these are going to have very severe bad effect on human life cycle.
> In adequate food, excessive work stress,PG room problem, financial burden,
> Prisoner like behaviours by the senior managers, domestic problems, Now
> allowing to use personal emails, not allowing to leave office within the
> stipulated working hours, not giving Saturdays as holidays and calling even
> on Sundays, No other holidays in the name of project etc.These will cause
> serious concern on-Mental health, Personal health, personal life, social
> life, Erectile disfunctions,domestic violence, Divorce, Birth of mentally
> retarded children, strained relations with strained abused children,
> Obesity,(Already Obesity is common with bulging out heavy fatty bodies seen
> on the road everywhere) early old age etc and later Death.(Suicide etc).
>
> Will anyone try out to sort the issue or the Labour commission/National
> Commission for Women (NCW) ? Can it be taken as prevention of feasible
> suicides? Why only IBM follow such Iraq like attitude to Indians? A big
> question to ask? Are not we Indian are going to loose all for one company's
> gain? Our people, our social fame and the life cycle? I feel every educated
> Indian should feel for our thousand years old society first please. SOMEONE
> NEED TO RAISE AN ALARM NOW.
>
>
>
> Dr.Bikash Kumar Das
> Bangalore
>
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-- 
Mr. Ritutapan Borah
Business Analyst, Healthcare
Bangalore