This diwali,brighter for software majors

The mood among most firms is upbeat,8221;much better,with the worst behind us8221;,they said.

For the HR Head of IT bellwether Infosys,Mohandas Pai 8220;the mood is very positive. We have had a good quarter. We promised a salary hike to our employees from October 1 and that is already on the roll,8221; he said.

Backed by an improved economic climate and slow easing of pricing pressure,India8217; second largest software exporter posted a net profit of Rs 1,540 crore for the second quarter,registering a growth of 7.5 per cent.

For Wipro Technologies,positive vibrations of the festival are manifesting itself in the market place.

8220;The positive vibes of the festive season have been reflected in the market sentiments and the workforce in general,8221; Wipro Technologies CFO Manish Dugar said.

Last year,a series of bank failures in the US starting with Lehman Brothers and the resultant global economic downturn had had a profound impact on banking,financial services and insurance companies,which form a major part of clientele for IT firms.

In sync with Pai,Dugar describes the mood as 8220;definitely upbeat and this festival season has been more positive compared to last year8217;s Diwali.8221;

Pai,who wishes to put behind the 8220;worst period8221;,says 8220;this time last year,we were apprehensive about the market place,there was an air of uncertainty,which is not there now8221;.

According to Dugar 8220;in comparison between the situation last year and this year,we have seen an increase in the deal pipeline and the decision making at the customer8217;s end has been quicker and the worst is behind us8221;.

For Mohan Sitharam,Director People Function,MindTree Ltd,8221;the mood last time was low-key. People were apprehensive about what to expect next8221;.

8220;However,we as a company,whether things were good or bad,have never taken a decision that has impacted our employees,8221; he said.

8220;Now,of course8221;,says Sitharam,8221;the ambiguity is behind us,the mood is much better and things are looking up8221;.

The firms,however,are not planning any Diwali bashes for their employees as the feel 8220;the festival is not a corporate but an individual affair8221;.

As a global company,Dugar says,8221;the employees do celebrate festivals in their respective regions with family and friends like they do on Diwali8221;.