The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Krishnagiri BPO unit offers hope to rural youth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Krishnagiri BPO unit offers hope to rural youth

S. Prasad

The country’s first rural BPO
unit-cum-call centre is a success

HOSUR: Over 30 young employees of a business process outsourcing unit in the Chanachandiram village near here have proved that a backward such as Krishnagiri district can be turned into an employment generating centre.

Carved out of the once naxal-infested Dharmapuri district, Krishnagiri has been witnessing an exodus by the youth in search of employment. But with this pilot project by the district administration to provide means of livelihood locally, there are hopes of more such job-oriented development in the district.

A year ago, the district administration attempted to take advantage of information technology-enabled services for the rural youth, whose minimum qualification was a pass in the X standard. Making use of the available resources of the District Rural Development Agency, the country’s first rural business process outsourcing unit-cum-call centre was started in the village. And, it has lit up the lives of many youngsters who got their salary in the form of AXIS Bank debit cards.

According to Collector Santhosh Babu, 37 employees of FoSTERA (Fostering Technologies in Rural Areas) comprising team leaders, team agents and proofreaders, received their first salary on Saturday from the U.S.-based All State Insurance (ASI), a NASDAQ-listed company. LEOsoft Technologies, Bangalore, is another client.

While team leaders and proof readers are paid a salary of Rs.10,000 and Rs.7,000 a month respectively, team agents get Rs.3,500 to Rs.5,000 depending on their accuracy levels.

The good news for non-graduates is that their entry-level salary is on a par with that of graduates.

Those who have passed only X standard and Plus-Two are trained in basic computer, English grammar, accent and communication and soft skills for personality development.

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