India's north-east, so far clouded by insurgency, is bracing for an economic and employment boom with some of the country's top IT and BPO companies making a foray into the region.Genpact, one of the country's top BPO employers, is the latest to have firmed up plans to start operations in the north-east. Recently, companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Symantec and 24/7 Customer had evinced interest in setting up their businesses here, apparently impressed by the region's abundant supply of skilled workforce and low attrition rate.According to D P Wahlang, IT secretary, government of Meghalaya, the companies are impressed with the locals' strong command over English and the sense of loyalty that people from this region bring to the job, resulting in lower attrition.During the recent 'North-East Investment Summit' in Guwahati, minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh had said that north-east India was becoming a fertile recruitment ground for IT and BPO service providers.BPO firm 24/7 Customer has hired about 150 people from north-east and east India in the last few years, while Maveric Systems, an independent testing organisation, has hired 24 students from four engineering colleges and one university here. Experts say the companies have found that candidates in this region have the ability to adapt easily to a BPO environment.Genpact, which is expected to start operations very soon, is carrying out negotiations with the Meghalaya government."Negotiations are on. Genpact authorities are convinced about the advantages in the region and they may start operations any time," RG Lyngdoh, IT minister, government of Meghalaya, said.Genpact would not only recruit people from the region but also set up an unit in Shillong, he added.Companies are willing to train candidates so as to improve their technical skills. 24/7 Customer launched its '24/7 Varsity' programme in Guwahati last year to educate university lecturers in skills required for the BPO industry.Last month, IT firm Symantec signed an MoU with Meghalaya Information Technology Society (MITS) for setting up educational programmes in Meghalaya.The entry of IT and BPO firms in the north-east would not only benefit the companies, but also promises the overall development of the region, with huge investments flowing in.According to Lyngdoh, the Meghalaya government is making attempts to approach IT and ITeS companies to invest in the state with multiple objectives including creating employment, improving infrastructure and using IT as a catalyst to fuel growth in other industries."Genpact would make a huge investments in north-east and is currently exploring options to set up a unit in Shillong," Jairam Ramesh said."Now it is the job of the state governments to provide broadband and air connectivity," he added.The forays of the IT companies into north-east assume significance in the context of the industry facing a manpower crunch. Currently, about 1.6 million people populate IT and BPO companies in India. Despite this, supply of quality manpower has for long been a nemesis for the industry.
