Technology with love

How will you feel if you happen to meet innovation, transformation, hospitality and last but not the least technology under one roof? Isn’t it a vague combination? Doesn’t this, combination sounds unique? I am fortunate enough to experience this in a tiny village called Sanasandiram in Hosur town at Tamil Nadu.
Located on the foot hills of a hill temple called Chandrachooda Eswarar temple, this village is located off the Chennai-Bangalore highway and once considered to be the dirtiest till two years ago, no proper roads, electricity and drainage system, is now considered to be one of the eco-friendly and well improved in terms of infrastructure in district. This transformation not only came to the village, it also happened to the rural youths who were working in tea-shops, was taking care of cattle today speak fluent English and are walking with high pride.
Thanks to the entrepreneurship of two personality Dr Santhosh Babu and M. R. Ashok Kumar with a combination of technology which gave birth to “FOSTeRA”, the first rural BPO in the country, the brain child of then Krishnagiri Collector Dr Santhosh Babu and Ashok Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, FOSTeRA.
Spread over in 3000 sq.ft. this rural BPO centre interiors gives you a pleasant and multi-national look. It has over 25 machines with legal software, network connection and employs over 40 local youths doing data entry work and giving voice support back in US and also to the domestic companies, banks and even to the government.
People working here are not only pride but also humble and more than that their patience (every day they get atleast three visitors to whom they have to introduce themselves by giving their background which would consume atleast 5-6 minutes).
Added bonus here is the home food from the attached canteen (FOSTeRA gives food and nice green tea at free of cost to their staffs) and “excellent” support from the people who have associated here. Still i could remember their names Kothandam, Vijay Kumar, Anand and Vijay Shanti.
Inside atmosphere will make you forget that you are in a rural set up and outside atmosphere will make you forget urban life.
It was interesting to note how FOSTeRA was born. Two old friends rather colleagues Santhosh and Ashok met after 10 years in Krishnagiri in 2006. Ashok was visiting District Collector’s office with his family members for his personal work. When he entered the old time Bungalow, which is now converted as the local district administration office, was the display board which carried all the top officials led by Santhosh.
“When i saw Santhosh Babu’s name it was a pleasant surprise and with my own doubt whether it’s the same old colleague of mine (Santhosh) I walked to the Collector’s office. His attendant asked me for a reason to meet the Collector, I told him to just tell my name, it was a pleasant and shocking surprise Santhosh came out of the room to receive me,” recollects Ashok. It was not a surprise for Ashok alone but for all the people including his family members.
After which two friends have started meeting often and one fine day both of them happen to see an advertisement notice which spoke about a BPO centre. Without thinking a moment both of them have said why not we start on our in the district, wise-men thinks alike. This small size advertisement gave birth to FOSTeRA on February 28, 2007 in a small community hall at Sanasandiram.
The rural BPO soon to celebrate its 2nd birthday on February 28, 2009, Ashok who led the journey which has been difficult till last year. Some of the difficult time he faced includes initial opposition and discouraging words on the new initiative, opposition of various sections of societies and bureaucrats. The sole personality who is considered “as the god father” for the 40 youths working in the BPO and happen to see these challenges has no other saying except “don’t care”.
The person known for his hospitality started looking at other villages in Krishnagiri District, which were once considered to be the Naxalites belt till few years back and plans to add another 700 in the coming months. He is also in the process of setting up similar “Azhaippy Maiyam” or rural BPO facilities across the district.
Most of the people who are working here are young men and women in the age group 18 to 25, youths who had been idling time, working as labourers or those whose fathers had joined the Naxal movement.
They were trained for two months in basic English, accent, modulation, pronunciation and soft skills and typing. BPO in this district has gone up significantly, also increased job opportunities for local youths thanks to the initiative taken by the local district administration along with NASSCOM. Today representatives of IT major companies including Microsoft, Wipro, HP, Cognizant, Syntel, HOV Services and US Technology are the frequent visitors to this tiny village.
Until six months ago, R Muraliraj from Chanachadiran village toiled as a labourer, while G Padma spent her day herding cattle. These two were spotted by the district administration and sent for training. Today both speak accented English and working as a team at a BPO cum rural call centre in Chanachadiran.
This back-office of a US-based ASI and EDS and for country’s top private bank helps them to earn Rs 5,000-8,000 per month, and is ushering in a revolution in Chanachadiran.
Padma who was an eigth drop-out from a school use to spend her day with cattle. Today she proudly owns a TVS Scooty bought from her own salary.
G Abilash lot more reasons to cheer up, once considered being irresponsible kid in the village and at home was working in a cattle field. He was found by Ashok’s team and was placed under the training today he interacts with clients in US and looks after his parents and sisters. Among his friends group he is now the “hero”.
The location of the BPO centre is interesting. A dilapidated decade-old 3,000 sq ft samudaya nala koodam or community hall in the village square was converted into an air-conditioned facility with 25 systems, two servers and an investment of Rs 25 lakh.
While the bridegroom's room of the community hall was turned into a server room, groom's room has become a conference hall.
The team agents, managers and leaders can see the village square, the picturesque hillocks and the famous Chandrachoodeshwara temple.
To summarise all I can say FOSTeRA a place of hospitality, innovation, patience, transformation and nature. I wish FOSTeRA spreads her wing and fly globally and can be a free bird and last not but not least gets more project.