IT firm Mahindra Satyam on Monday said it is stepping up efforts to attract talent including an initiative especially for women across Asia- Pacific and India.

The outreach initiative, launched as an essential part of its regional business strategy, are targeted towards potential employees both within and outside the industry, Mahindra Satyam said in a statement.

The company has launched 'Starting Over', a recruiting initiative that taps into a highly talented pool of mid-career women seeking to restart their careers at Mahindra Satyam after having taken break for personal reasons.

"Women make a significant part of the tech workforce today and 'Starting Over' is novel way of honing that talent base effectively," Mahindra Satyam Head HR Asia Pacific Suresh Samudrala said.

In order to grow existing talent, the company regularly conducts extensive people development programmes, both at leadership and delivery staff levels, the filing added.

"Mahindra Satyam is fast developing a reputation for being one of the most coveted employers in the industry and we are pleased with that mantle," Samudrala added.

The company had earlier said, that it expects to hire nearly 17,000 people this fiscal as business sentiment improves for the country?s IT industry.

Currently, Satyam has a total headcount of around 30,000.

This year?s hiring would take the company?s headcount to about 50,000 about 3,000 less than its pre-crisis staff strength of 53,000.

Shares of Mahindra Satyam were trading at Rs 80.90 on the BSE, up 2.99 per cent from the previous close.