Bangalore, June 15 : Chairman and chief mentor of India’s second-largest software exporter Infosys Technologies Ltd., N. R. Narayana Murthy, has said that generating diverse workforce would be a big challenge for companies.

Murthy was addressing the company's 27th annual general meeting (AGM) for fiscal 2008 in southern Bangalore.

"As corporations grow and globalize, I am more and more convinced that the greatest challenge they face will be creation of the diverse work force," he said.

For fiscal 2008, Infosys has rewarded its shareholders with a special dividend of Rs. 20 per share.

"I am delighted to inform you that the board, after reviewing the prospects, has decide to pay a special dividend of Rs. 20 per share, that is 400 per cent for the value of Rs 5 per share.... Along with the interim and final dividend of Rs 6 per share and Rs. 7.25 per share, the total dividend would be Rs 33.25 per share," Murthy said.

Infosys last month said that it was seeing greater competition for talent, and expects higher salaries to help prevent attrition.

The software giant plans to add 25,000 employees in 2008/09, has made 18,000 offers to students at engineering colleges, and will also hire about 330 business school graduates.

India's 64 billion dollar software services sector has been hit by slower growth at battered banks and financial firms, sectors that contribute most to revenues. (ANI)