Cos in Ranchi STPI facing high attrition rate Ranchi: Set up to promote export-oriented initiative in the information technology sector two years ago, the Software Technology Park of India (STPI), Namkon in Ranchi is facing hard times. Most of the firms, which set up its operation, are now planning to shift their units as they are facing with high rate of attrition of IT professionals. Ranchi-based Poddar Technologies, and Jamshedpur-based Alpine Techno and Calling 24x7 have almost winded their operation. Bhubaneswar-based Cynosure Infotech, which had stalled operations, was on the verge of leaving. "Apart from high attrition, Ranchi's distance from software hubs like Bangalore and Hyderabad is also a factor that's impeding the growth of the industry here," STPI Additional Director Surya K Pattanayak conceded. Pattanayak, who is in charge of the STPI centres in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela and Ranchi, said a few business process outsourcing (BPO) companies had even stopped using their facilities even though they owed lakhs to the STPI. Regarding rising trend of attrition, officials said young professionals, who gained experience here, left for cities like Bangalore, Calcutta, Pune and Delhi the moment they acquired reasonable levels of efficiency. "At least three software companies have shut shop recently," STPI Assistant Director in Ranchi Siddharth Rai said, adding that two companies, the city-based Vision Eternity and Bhubaneswar-based Cynosure Infotech, were still operating out of STPI, but weren't in good shape. "Cynosure Infotech has stalled operations from May due to some capital problems," an STPI source in Ranchi said. The state government on the other hand hardly took any interest in promoting the cause of STPI, saying that it had provided land for the park. Now the centre should ensure that the purpose of setting up the software park is fulfilled. The Ranchi STPI is spread over 12,500 sq ft with a workable area of 6,500 sq ft in the Namkum Industrial Area, 10 km from here. It can house 400 BPO employees in a single shift. Opened with a lot of fan fare, the park had once drew the attention of noted infotech companies like the Hyderabad-based Gen2 and Calcutta-based Leonid. More than a dozen other software companies had also evinced keen on opening units here. According to the STPI officials, companies like TCS, the Indian Stock Exchange, Tenneti Technology, Satyam Information Solutions, V-XL Teleworking and Bharat Vision also filed applications to register units here. The demand for space in the STPI was such that they were planning another centre at Jamshedpur. STPI officials, however, exuded confidence that the change of guard in the state politics and posting of a dynamic officer PK Jajoria as Secretary in place of RS Sharma might help the centre grow. "We are particularly hopeful that Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who has kept the IT Department with him, will be able to address the looming problem of the STPI in the state," the STPI officer said.
