Active Commuting - Walk towards a better future

The speedy growth of India's urban population has put massive pressure on all transport systems. Growing travel demand exceeds the limited supply of transport infrastructure and services. Public transport, in particular, has been completely overwhelmed.

Gurgaon is a fast emerging suburb of Delhi, the national capital of India. The city offers world class business opportunities particularly for IT and related industries. Public transport supply in the city is characterized by array of modes ranging from two seated manually driven cycle rickshaws to fifty seated buses compatible with local conditions and demand patterns available for use. The level of blending of the two types of systems in a city is determined by the prevailing city’s socio economic fabric, travel patterns and road network.

It is very important for us to understand the annoyances, risks and costs incurred on cab and bus fleets that companies are forced to run to compensate for the absence of walking, cycling and city bus infrastructure.

We should aim to create awareness and encourage people to choose sustainable transport over personal vehicles. There is an urgent need to catalyse the creation of high quality footpaths, cycle paths and public transport alternatives. If our industry is able to create enough ‘force & demand’ infrastructure it will further encourage the Govt. to look into these asks and provide continued support. Over the last few months, various workshops for HR Admin & Transport managers have been organized in various companies. Companies are making efficient use of public transport & have also been able to drastically reduce their fleet size. Through these repeated interventions, the message of walking, cycling, and using public transport on a more frequent basis is being spread. Going forward we should all plan to conduct - company sensitization programs regarding use of public transport, cycling rallies heavily participated by employees of IT-BPM industry and pay more emphasis on the last mile connectivity.

The IT-BPM industry comprises of a fair share of challenges; one of the most important being safety to its employees and in particular women employees. This industry is already familiar with the facts & stands poised to provide adequate safety & security to its employees. They have shown strong commitment towards providing for Safe and secure working environment to all of their employees especially women employees. As a routine practice, this industry as a whole maintains, manages and upgrades comprehensive security program across regions which is indicative of its commitment to the cause.

Organizations have also understood the importance of ‘active commuting’. NASSCOM had organized “CEO’s Walk to Work” which was attended by over 500 executives from the IT-BPM industry - signifying that top corporate professionals can walk & inspire their fellow colleagues to follow their steps. Similar ‘green’ initiatives by other corporates in the future will increase the awareness and willingness of the workforce to take the choice of opting for more environment friendly ways of commuting. 

Age is just a Number!

I recently attended the NASSCOM India Leadership Forum in Mumbai.  Being amidst the who’s who of the IT Industry; it gave me a great sense of belonging. I was proud and happy to be home. I then read an article in a periodic publication which said, “SIGNS of middle age were obvious at a recent gathering… It was hard to spot anyone close to India’s median age of 26.” This got me thinking. Does age really matter? The instant debate that began in my mind was inescapable.

Majority of the successful honchos present across the country today are from the older lot, falling in the age group of 50 years and above. But with that age, comes wisdom and abilities to follow direction, mentor those present around, and lead. One reason that counts in their favour is the substantial bit of experience that they have garnered across the years. Such people also tend to be more pragmatic and loyal, and understand the importance of being team players. 

Having said that, looking at it from a different angle, very recently I read about Google’s Andy Rubin, who had been heading the company’s Android division, stepped down and was replaced by Sundar Pichai. Pichai is an IIT Kharagpur alumnus who also heads Google’s Chrome division.

I accept as true that younger workers have more energy and are sometimes more creative. But there is a lot they can only know until they gain considerable experience. Furthermore, these talented young adults are not merely workers. They are also more likely to be entrepreneurs, forming the next generation of companies that not only power metropolitan but also contribute in national growth.

Moreover, a lot of CEOs who are running successful companies are in their 40s and 70s. Many of them think that age has little to do with success and leadership. What matters far more is whether executives see the heart of their career and accomplishments ahead of them or behind.

So at one end there are the young, who find themselves intimidated by the more, experienced and the brainy lot while the newcomers come across as being far smart and faster than veterans believe they themselves are.

As the industries across the world prove that with time evolving continuously, the expertise and opportunities are persistently increasing and hence we see younger CEO’s and MD’s taking over on the top panel of various big organizations. However, it also shows that the age of initiation into the ‘CEO group’ is decreasing and that day is not far when conclaves of experts across industries would see a large group of 20-somethings taking the lead. And it’s yet to be seen how things fare for all.