In order to give a new face to promoting business , certain standard functions, in simpler parlance, can be outsourced or handled by a party outside the concerned business entity which is called Business Process Outsourcing or BPO. Certain prime but most important functions like better customer service, maintaining accounting procedures and books, maintaining payroll and most importantly human resources management are ably handled through such outsourcing . The other face of it is pertinent to mention about , particularly in the context of Jammu and Kashmir, where BPOs can play a significant role in creating ample employment opportunities as its aim is to attract entrepreneurs, investors and Multi National Companies (MNCs) in Information Technology areas to establish business units . We can recall the success story of Rural BPO in Bandipora, Kashmir which got its first call centre with a noble but challenging aim to address the problem of unemployment to a larger extent and to be partakers in the scenario of creating new opportunities in digital economy. So far so good – but why should such BPOs not be opened at least one in each district of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir on pilot basis is the moot question and otherwise about which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has evoked keen interest and had inaugurated the maiden BPO in Bandipora Kashmir way back in 2019.
However, when seen to what extent ground situation conducive to setting up of a BPO unit at each District Headquarters is assessed, nothing appears to have been done even though proper inclusion in the Budget by the Union Finance Minister about the BPOs in the UT having already been made . It can be thus seen how more than two years have been just wasted and thus lost in establishing BPOs in districts of the UT. It appears that in fact no interest has been shown by the Government , even no cue taken from how Bandipora BPO has been going on smoothly and satisfactorily. Has there been a type of general information and an awakening about the utility and relevance in the context of the UT been shared with the district authorities and a blue print or a proper programme chalked out about setting up of BPO in respective districts, we learn that most of district authorities even know nothing about any such move or a planning made by the Government.
Digital service delivery to common people has got to be doubly ensured by the UT of Jammu and Kashmir at par with majority of the states of the country and there being enough potential available , why should the UT lag behind must be duly thought about. It looks queer that benefits of various hues which are otherwise available from the Union Government via various schemes are not being availed of in many instances which could have proven more beneficial to the people . Funds being available for the BPOs under BPO Promotion Scheme and, therefore, no stake of UT funds being there as a sufficient alibi, leaves nothing to chance but lends sensitivity to the entire gamut in not doing anything in the matter by the UT Government . In fact, it should be ascertained as to why such a lackadaisical approach has been employed so as not even to have instructions passed for identifying of land for establishing of a BPO in each district.
How a BPO can bring about unbelievable improvements like saving costs , saving time and resources, enhancing customer support or service , market research, technical support, accounting etc for a business concern based on digital services can be seen in those states where it has emerged successful and even at elementary levels, how the Bandipora unit even has started showing lot of promise. The need of the hour is a close cooperation between IT infrastructure Development Pvt Ltd. with respective Deputy Commissioners, majority of whom unfortunately have not been made fully acquainted with the concept of BPOs, so that the process of implementation of establishing BPOs in each district starts in the right earnest by availing benefit and provisions in the budget announcements for 2021-22 . Can we hope for a breakthrough and energizing the requisite machinery for setting up a BPO in each district in Jammu and Kashmir in the shortest period of time ?
Follow our WhatsApp channel