Tech CEO Assumes Civic Duties
By Nina Mukjerji

Kala believes in dreaming big. After spending just two years at an IT firm she decided to quit and start her own software company – Widespread Technology. Once again, when approached to stand for the Zilla Panchayat elections, she took on the challenge and won a seat at her very first attempt. Techgoss chats with Kala about the elections and future plans for her constituency.

Techgoss (TG): How does it feel to have won the elections? What made you contest?
Kala Narasimhamurthy (KN): It feels wonderful to have won at my very first attempt. But politics is not totally new to me. My father has been actively involved in politics for the last twenty years and my mother has held the post of Taluk Panchayat Vice- President. So I’ve grown up in this environment. However this time there was a reservation for women in my constituency. So people from my father’s party approached me to contest.  I decided to take the leap knowing that I had the support of my parents and the local bodies.

TG: What are you plans for the Zilla? Issues that you would focus on?
KN: I strongly believe that rural development in India is one of the most important driving factors for growth of the economy. So one focus area would definitely be improving the quality of education in government schools within my constituency. I am also spending time in the constituency to really understand what problems and issues people are facing. I would like to prioritize the necessary and basic needs and try to resolve those to start with.

TG: Will there be anything you will do in the area of e-governance - initiatives in that area?
KN: Yes, being an IT person I would definitely try to bring IT initiatives to effective administration. IT awareness among rural children would be a priority. Also our company Widespread Technology has been providing IT solutions to various government organizations.

TG: Tell us a bit about Widespread Technology
KN: I took my mother as partner and started the company in August 2009. We’ve been able to execute around 5 major projects and the company is doing well so far.

TG: What do you do in your free time?
KN: I like to read magazines like Entrepreneur and India Today. ‘The High Performance Entrepreneur’ is one of my favorite books and a must read for any new entrepreneur.