IT-BT employees demand WFH due to water crisis

BENGALURU: The water crisis in Bengaluru is getting worse by the day with people struggling to get water. The IT-BT employees are worried about the water scarcity and have demanded the government to issue an order allowing them to work from home again. A #WorkFromeHome campaign has also started trending on social media these days.

An IT employee named Arjuna posted on X saying “@Priyankakharge why don’t you instruct all IT companies to provide work from home for the next 2-3 months as the water crisis has become a major problem”.

Another IT employee, Rajesh Shet Gundabala, said an online campaign has started on social media for continuing WFH. There is already water shortage in the city. “In some areas of the city, people have not even received Cauvery water for 15-20 days. On the other hand, the borewells have dried up. For the first time after the pandemic, the IT sector employees are demanding work from home in order to save water, avoid problems for the common people. Some people have requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on social media to allow work from home till the end of the summer”.

Rajesh further said there are 67,000 IT-BT companies in Bengaluru where 15 lakh IT employees are working. Working from home for three months in the summer, could help help reduce the water usage of 30 lakh people, including techies and their families. This can alleviate the drinking water problem in Bengaluru city to at least some extent, he felt.

“More than IT-BT employees, the government should take major steps in saving water and desilting lakes before the monsoon. Saving lakes does not mean gardening, parks, constructing bunds or walls, or fencing. The government should take concrete measures to restore dried-up lakes”, he added.

Not only IT-BT companies, all those that have WFH provisions have requested to work from home facilities. “This way, the companies and apartments can save water as children will get summer holidays after the exam in the last week of March and IT employees can work from their hometown during the vacation”, Rajesh noted.