Bangalore, Oct 9 (IANS) Four co-founders of IT bellwether Infosys Technologies collectively contributed Rs.10 crore to rebuild houses for the victims of flood havoc in north Karnataka recently, a top official said.
“The company has pledged Rs.20 crore while four co-founders have volunteered to contribute Rs.2.5 crore each to the effort to build 3,000 pucca (permanent) houses for the flood-affected people,” Infosys chief executive S. Gopalkrishnan told reporters here.

The four co-founders are chairman and chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy, former vice-chairman Nandan M. Nilekani, chief operating officer S.D. Shibulal and Gopalakrishnan.

Responding to the state government’s call for humanitarian support by the IT industry, Infosys has taken the lead to rebuild 3,000 houses at a cost of Rs.100,000 each.

“The state government has asked us to construct the houses in locations that will be identified by the local bodies in the affected villages,” Gopalakrishnan said on the margins after announcing the company’s results for the second quarter this fiscal.

“We have to first understand how the relief activity will take place and do our best to build the houses at the earliest.”

State Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa assured Murthy Thursday of providing land and road connectivity to the company for constructing the houses even in remote and worst-affected villages.

Besides Infosys, another IT bellwether Wipro Ltd and biotechnology major Biocon Ltd have also come forward to take up building of houses for the flood-hit.

Biocon has pledged to build 3,000 houses at a cost of Rs.30 crore.

Wipro chairman Azim Premji told the chief minister that his company would inform the government how many houses it would rebuild after working out the modalities and funds.