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'Y2K awareness low in India'

Awareness of the Y2K -- the year 2000 problem -- was lowest in Asia. And that included India, though Japan, which started off with computers early and still use these antiquated machines, is at worst risk, according to David Buckle, Hindustan Lever Limited director, finance.

He referred to the Gartner group's findings from 6,000 companies and government agencies and said the figure of 20 per cent, set for those firms

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unlikely to take any action had been revised to 60 per cent. This, though more than 37 per cent have already faced Y2K-related problems, he said.

Though India's software manpower was among the best, there was little awareness about the problem, said Buckle, which could badly affect some companies.

He called for government initiative in this respect, citing the example of Malaysia which had also set up a Web site for the purpose.

HLL itself is to meet its mother company Unilever's deadline of October to have all its systems Y2K complaint.

Tough companies could make themselves secure internally, they could not be sure if external supports to had been secured from Y2K-related failure, Buckle warned.

-Compiled from the Indian media

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