IT staffers work from home, firms stay shut

PUNE: Most corporate offices remained closed in Chakan in view of the Maratha agitation on Thursday.

"We decided to keep the offices shut after being approached by locals and an area MLA on August 7," a representative of Chakan-based industries association said, blaming the government for its inability to reign in the hooligans.

"It is quite frustrating that such things are allowed to happen at a time when even the government knows the constitutional position on reservations," he said.

Another industry representative said a lot of multi-national companies (MNCs) that work from Chakan suffered huge losses due to the bandh. "These firms operate on Thursdays, unlike in the Bhosari MIDC area where Thursday is a weekly off," he said, adding, "We will remain open on Sunday and try and gather back what we have lost today. However, the factories won't perform at peak efficiency on a holiday as planned maintenance and planned leaves of staff will weigh in."

In Hinjewadi, IT companies allowed their employees to work from home. "These companies informed their employees through e-mails a day before that they have to come to the office before 8am and leave the offices only after 6pm due to Thursday's bandh. They had also asked the employees having laptops to work from home," Amit Talathi, an IT professional, said.

He added that the roads were deserted in the IT park as the employees had been told to remain inside to avoid any risk.

"Only those who wanted to go home were allowed to venture out after reviewing the situation," Talathi said.

Sharad Jamubhulkar, a Maratha activist from Hinjewadi village, said, "A complete bandh is being observed in Hinjewadi village with all shops, offices and other establishments being closed. Only medical shops, clinics and hospitals are working as they are exempted from the bandh."