(a) whether the Government are aware of the problems being faced by IT Units as reported in the `Times of India` dated November 4, 2000;
(b) if so, the facts thereof; and
(c) the steps taken to protect the IT enabled services from the harassments of the factory inspectors?
MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)
(a) and (b): Government is aware of the report in the Times of India dated November 4, 2000. The report does not identify the unit and no representation from any IT unit has been received in this regard.
(c): The National Task Force on Information Technology and Software Development submitted 108 recommendations as `Information Technology Action Plan: Part-I`. Recommendation No.23 stipulated: `IT Software and IT Services companies, being constituents of the knowledge industry, shall be exempted from inspection by Inspectors like those for Factory, Boiler, Excise, Labour, Pollution/Environment etc.`. The Ministry of Labour has issued guidelines to various authorities to impress upon the need to free IT industry from the rigors of these laws unless absolutely necessary.