The Times of India 31.08.2012
After bitter tax-duel, Onasadya unites corporation and Infosys
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after the state government freed city-based IT companies from paying tax dues to the corporation, the civic body has decided to forget the past and look ahead. The tax issue had resulted in a bitter feud between certain IT firms and the coropration. For the first time, IT major Infosys will extend its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to the city corporation.
Sanjeevani, the CSR wing run by the employees of Infosys, will serve Onasadya to the inmates of the beggar rehabilitation centre run by the city corporation on Friday. "We will provide a delicious Onam feast to the inmates for the next three days. We are glad to extend our services to the city corporation for the first time. When the corporation came up with this proposal, we were so excited to be a part of it," said an Infosys official. The CSR wing is also planning to provide lunch to the inmates on a regular basis.
"We are willing to carry on this initiative on a permanent basis. We will hold talks with the corporation and we hope there won't be any hassles," the official added. The corporation had earlier declared attachment procedures against Infosys for defaulting on the payment of dues. The corporation had slammed three demand notices seeking tax dues worth Rs 40 lakh. It was following the controversy over the tax dues that the government had issued an order stating that the companies coming under the special economic zone need not pay tax to the corporation.
Infosys has also agreed to sponsor sewing machines to a small-scale industrial unit run by widows and desolate women at mayor K Chandrika's ward, Muttada. Although corporation officials said that the ruling council is now keen on breaking the ice with Infosys, mayor Chandrika termed the CSR initiative as a "routine affair". "The tax dues and the recent programmes have to be viewed in two different perspectives. It is good to see Infosys coming up with such humane endeavours. But the corporation is still disappointed by the government order that has resulted in a huge economic loss for the corporation," said Chandrika.
The mayor, however, added that the corporation will not be hesitant to welcome similar initiatives by IT companies in future also. "As I said, both things are different. If they come up with programmes that could be beneficial to the people, the corporation will facilitate them," she said.
