IT
INDUSTRIES AND INDIA – ECONOMY
News: India tech industry decentralising
to 26 cities from 7 major hubs, 11-15% talent in tier 2, 3 cities: Report
What's
in the news?
●
The IT industries in India are
concentrated in the major metropolitan cities of India such as Bengaluru,
Mumbai, Chennai etc.
Socio-economic
Implications of IT Industries:
1.
Economic empowerment:
●
Development of IT industries in major
cities, have led to the economic empowerment, rise of new middle class through
higher employment opportunities and development of ancillary businesses.
2.
Gender parity:
●
As the labour force participation of women
in quality jobs is comparatively more in major cities, due to development of IT
industries, it has led to their financial independence and empowerment.
3.
Cultural changes:
●
The concentration of IT industries in
major cities have also seen cultural changes.
●
A marked shift towards accepting western
language, rise in nuclear families, shift in food choices and modes of
recreation could be seen. For example, the café culture of Bangalore.
4.
Social infrastructure:
●
Development of IT industries have
given boost to the social infrastructure. This could be seen in
high availability of schools, hospitals etc.
5.
Migration:
●
As these cities have become the centre of
knowledge economy, there is a marked preference in youths to migrate into these
cities for better career opportunities leaving senior citizens behind in tier
2-3 cities.
6.
Un-balanced development:
●
Concentration of IT industry in a handful
of cities, have led to the neglect of many tier 2, tier 3 towns.
●
This has created an unhealthy development
divide in the country. There is also a huge wage gap between IT workers and
other workers.
7.
Security challenges:
●
The late-night work culture, rise in
affluence have parallelly enhanced the security challenges for the citizens and
administration alike with incidents of thefts, eve-teasing etc. on a rise.
The development of IT
industries has come as a boon for the country. Its development should be decentralized into tier-2 and tier-3
cities also, so as to ensure an inclusive development in the growing knowledge
economy.