User:Yuvaruralbpo/sandbox

 Title of the initiative – YUVA BPO, Rural India’s Largest BPO

 Ministry/ Department/ State Govt./District/Organization where the initiative was implemented – District Administration, Dantewada.

 Commencement of the initiative – December 2017.

       

 Executive summary of the initiative 

'''Educated youth from Dantewada and nearby districts are unable to find jobs commensurate with their qualifications and expectations in the district; at the same time, youth of Bastar have a psychological aversion to seeking job opportunities outside their domicile due to secluded tribal outlook. In the current IT economy, low end IT and BPO jobs are unable to economically sustain in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities.'''

'''This twin situation presented an opportunity for the hitherto under – developed, LWE affected Dantewada to attempt to create an IT ecosystem in the district and provide sustained white – collar employment to educated youth. The YUVA BPO, set up in Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Education City, Dantewada is one of the largest examples of Government facilitated private sector employment in the country, which aims to employ over 1000 computer literate youth from all 7 LWE affected districts of Bastar Division. A convergence of various schemes such as the India BPO Promotion Scheme of the Software Technology Parks of India, and the Chhattisgarh state Government IT/ITES Policy is aimed to be used since both schemes provide significant financial and technical support to private sector units setup in the state, especially in tribal dominated areas such as Dantewada.'''

'''The jobs on offer in YUVA BPO include both voice and non – voice processes, where employed youth are earning monthly salaries of Rs. 8,000 – 14,000 Dantewada being the centre of South Bastar, this BPO will have a huge demonstrative effect on the economy and employment scenario of the entire area, and act as magnet to attract better, high value IT/ ITES jobs such as software development, KPOs etc. to this area.'''

'''Interest was invited from private sector units willing to setup units in Dantewada to train and employ local youth, supported by a convergence of Central and State Government schemes, and through DMF funds. The private sector player was provided necessary infrastructural and operational support by the district administration, along with logistical support; which helped cushion the private sector players against initial mobilization costs and reduced the fear psychosis. The selected computer literate youth were provided 45 days’ on – job training under the Mukhyamantri & Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (MMKVY/ PMKVY) by the selected private sector partner and employed by them. It is heartening to note that a large number of youth from hitherto almost untouched, unconnected, severely affected LWE villages and areas of Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur are employed in this BPO; response from other districts of Bastar Division has also been encouraging, which has only added to the inclusiveness of this initiative. Another important achievement of YUVA BPO has been that 57% employees of this BPO are women and 45% employees are tribals. At present, 462 youth are directly employed in this BPO, which has led to a monthly income increase of this area by at least Rs. 40 lacs; this would increase to at least Rs. 1 cr. per month once the BPO is scaled up to 1000 seats, for which all necessary infrastructure and other requirements are already in place.'''

Such sustainable, scalable employment generation activities have acted as a ray of hope for youth and have cut through the LWE ideology of isolationism and violence and have helped remove disenchantment amongst youth and included them in a holistic development narrative.

  Outcomes: Impact/ benefits resulting from the initiative  

'''YUVA has so far provided steady, white – collar income to 462 computer literate youth from all districts of Bastar Division. Several Indian and MNCs such as Bank of America, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Airtel etc. have reposed immense trust in YUVA by placing their client processes here through 3 private sector companies. YUVA aims to employ at least 1000 youth in phases, providing monthly incomes of at least Rs. 1 cr. In a tribal ecosystem like Dantewada, even if one member of a family, tribe or village get a white – collar job, it not only creates a ray of hope for the entire community, but also acts as an effective counter against the repressive LWE ideology. An effective start has already been made to projecting Dantewada as an IT hub, and to generate more private sector employment in this area.'''

'''Apart from these direct jobs, generation of ancillary and support jobs such as housekeeping, maintenance etc. has also helped improve economic status of families. The entire housekeeping of YUVA BPO is done by a 12-member women SHG whose monthly incomes have increased by around Rs. 8000 each. Housekeeping and canteen facilities are also provided by 2 women SHGs with 20 members; monthly incomes of these SHGs has cumulatively increased by Rs. 2,00,000.'''

The establishment of YUVA BPO has also helped in changing the general perception of Dantewada from a hotbed of violence and extremism to a hub of innovative measures being taken to ensure holistic development in a tribal ecosystem.

'''Youth in Bastar were unable to find jobs according to their aspirations, a situation which could heighten the lure of an LWE ideology of violence and isolationism in this tribal dominated area. YUVA BPO has been able to reduce the lure of LWE amongst youth and engaged them in a steady, income – generating initiative. A step has been taken in transforming Dantewada into an IT hub; the challenges were manifold in launching this initiative. For instance, internet and mobile services in Dantewada (and Bastar) are usually very unreliable, which meant that YUVA had to obtain bandwidths from 3 separate ISPs to ensure client facing operations were never affected.'''

'''The training and placement ecosystem have seen a paradigm shift since the establishment of YUVA BPO. Technology has not only been leveraged as an enabler, but also as a source of white – collar employment. For instance, the entire BPO facility is RFID card protected, which ensures even female employees can work peacefully in night shifts. Similarly, accommodation facilities have been provided at subsidized costs to employees from far – off areas; transportation facilities have been provided at subsidised rates for employees from Dantewada. A complaint committee to prevent sexual harassment comprising of women employees has been setup to report incidents and create awareness amongst BPO employees, most of whom are working for the first time in a formal environment.'''

Safety concerns are also regularly addressed through mock fire drills, provision of fire exits, clearly defined exit routes etc.

Thus, an attempt has been made to create an agile, responsive IT ecosystem in Dantewada, suitably geared to meet needs and expectations of both employers and employees.