Fostering Technologies in Rural Area (FOSTeRA), India’s first rural BPO firm in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu is planning to hire 500 people in the next three months. The monthly salaries range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 for these positions.

The BPO, which was working just one shift, is switching to three shifts a day, Fostera CEO Ashok Kumar was quoted as saying in the Times of India. About 300 young people have already been put through voice and non-voice training for bank helplines and insurance customers in English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

Multi-national telecom and banking companies are looking at Fostera as a cheaper option to outsource their help desk, loan collection, credit card processing, form-filling, insurance and editing work. Fostera currently runs a 25-seater facility, will soon start two more call centres in Uthangarai taluk in Krishnagiri district, each with a capacity of 75.

Marriage halls in Uthangarai taluk are being converted into BPOs, providing jobs for those above 18 who have finished school. The taluk has a high unemployment and illiteracy rate. “We look for youth with the right attitude and high energy levels. Communication skills can be instilled, but attitude cannot be taught," says Kumar.