Lucknow: A rural call centre started by entrepreneur RK Misra, who won the Lead India contest of The Times Of India in 2011, has successfully completed five years.
The centre, situated in village Sonari near Sidhauli in Sitapur, has employed 160 local youths. The centre hires rural youth who are class 12 pass and have had no exposure to city life or digital world.
"Most of our employees have seen or used the computers for the first time. It is indeed a tribute to the genius of our rural youth who are committed and competent," RK Misra said.
Misra claims the centre receives around 12,000 calls per day. Misra, who grew up in the same village, said UP's rural youth have no job opportunity and stare at a hopeless future. "Even government schemes talk about
unemployment allowance but what the youth need is employment," he said.
He claimed that many youth left their call centre jobs in Lucknow to join the rural call centre. "They are working as team leaders here," he added.
The Lead India winner hailed the initiative as true empowerment of rural India. "City youth going to a village for job opportunities...It is truly Digital India where use of technology has removed the rural-urban divide. I hope that each district of UP will have one such rural call centre soon," he said.