Forced to Sleep on Footpaths: TCS Employee's Desperate Plea for Salary Goes Viral

Pune (The Uttam Hindu): A photo of Sourabh More, a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee, sleeping on the footpath outside the company's Pune office has gone viral, sparking widespread outrage and raising questions about worker treatment in the IT industry. More claimed he was forced to live on the street after his salary was withheld despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue with the company's HR department.

More returned to duty at the Pune campus on July 29, only to find that his employee ID was inactive and his salary hadn't been paid. He raised the issue with the HR team on July 30, but the matter allegedly remained unresolved. In a handwritten letter placed beside him, More wrote: "I have informed HR I don't have money and will be forced to sleep and live outside TCS on footpath."

Company Response

TCS attributed the situation to More's "unauthorized absence," stating that payroll was suspended during this period. The company claims to have provided More with accommodation and is actively working to resolve the issue. "We have provided him accommodation for now and are supporting him in addressing his situation in a fair and constructive manner," the company said.

Support from Industry Body

The Forum of IT Employees (FITE) expressed support for More, commending his courage to raise his voice in such dire conditions. FITE also emphasized the importance of formally reporting salary delays and job-related issues to the Labour Office, stating: "Protesting is a strong visual message, but combining it with a legal complaint strengthens the fight and compels accountability."