I have been for the last 8 months reading in the State dailies about Call Centre interviews for top BPOs like IBM, CONVERGYS etc. where they (Private companies operating in Manipur) can get them jobs where the starting salary is 10 K plus and 20 K plus etc.

So these companies advertise themselves by telling the 'ignorant youths' ( I say ignorant because they know very little about the Industry) where they are given spoken English training and Call Centre training and also tell them that they have Hostel facilities in Delhi, Mumbai, Gurgaon etc.

After they completed their training they are called for an interview that too through advertising that such and such companies are looking for them. Many of these youth go to the interview where they get selected. Then they tell them blah blah blah and that they have to deposit this much sum of money for security deposit and hostel fee etc.

So I asked myself, are these private companies really having direct contacts? Being curious although curiosity had killed the cat but since I was not a cat so I told myself what the heck, ‘Let’s find out the truth regarding each of the claims.’

First of all they say that BPOs such as blah blah and blah blah are looking for youths with good spoken English and good communication skills.

These almost can make us believe that they are having direct connection with the companies.

Well ! I have to say that it’s bullsh#t ! (With no malice towards any individual or companies) because no company operating in Manipur are having any direct connection nor can give direct placement from here.

Those who were lucky to have passed the interview have to start from the beginning once they reach Delhi, Gurgaon etc. The interview conducted from here is invalid so when you reach the cities you are on your own - Boys & Girls.

Also starting salary for a Fresher is always mostly below 10K . Experience is very valuable which will show in the salary package that you will get.

Secondly they give them spoken English training for good communication skills and Call Centre. Regarding this issue I have no negative points to say because it really helps even the worst Training Facilities can give us some experience.

So on to the next i.e. Hostel facilities and Security Deposits. While most of the Security Deposits are never returned even if they don’t get a job through them the funniest is about the Hostel Facilities, which is a joke.

When those taken from Imphal arrive in Delhi, Gurgaon etc they are made to stay along with some North East guys or gals who are already working there. If there was any Hostel Facility provided by some companies from here it must be from a figment of their imagination.

I visited this Training Institute’s in Imphal posing as someone wanting to take up the courses and found parents enrolling their son’s and daughter’s and it really hurt me, knowing that these companies are giving out only half baked cakes.

Believe me, if you finish the Spoken English Training and Call Centre Training then you don’t need a company to take you because if you are fit and capable then there are thousands of Call Centers and other sectors. For the record there are more than 5,788 Call Centers, registered on the internet in India.

Why I don’t give out the names of the companies ? Because I and those staying in Delhi, Gurgaon etc who are working in IBM, Convergysys, Tele-Tech, American Express, AVIVA etc are giving them a chance to rectify themselves lest I come out with the truth and facts. Because everyone deserve another chance; only fools will not take them.

Right now I am really mad with a particular private company which had taken a batch of prospecting boys and girls to Delhi and Gurgaon who believed them and whose parents had to fork out the money needed which was around Rs 18,000/- thousand and Rs 30,000/- thousand hoping their sons and daughters will get a good job and someday support them.

While those who had taken them took to drinking booze at 11 PM, they were drunk along with the girls they had brought along from Imphal it was disgraceful on the part of the authorities/companies who had taken them.

From angels they turned into devils.

Let me say no more and let’s try to be positive because Call Centre jobs are really a booming Industry. And private companies offering training in spoken English and Call Centre Training need to give their best to their students because out in the cities it’s like a jungle, so let’s not be the beast ourselves.

After all my negative points, I am glad that a spoken English and Call Centre Training in the name of English Centre which is a franchisee is coming to Manipur. Because these type of companies are very rare and also it is the only one for the entire North East.

But I hope the trainers and instructor are good because without a good faculty it will surely fail too. Manipur is a place where a Government jobs mean shelling out lacs of rupees to get a job even after you get through the written exams and interviews.

Just imagine 2-3 lacs for primary teacher post and 10-15 lacs for the MPSC are doing the rounds and the big question in my mind is what ever happened to "Operation New Kangleipak" (ONK) of the KYKL.

Earlier I had praised them for their untiring and an impossible task of cleaning our education system. Hope my belief that they are the only one that can do it does not go in vain.

Because those who cannot afford such a large sum of money due to poverty are looking up to you thinking only the KYKL can make it free and fair, so that it will go on merit.

Well am I asking too much ?—

Related articles:

• BPO Jobs: A boon or a Bane? - Thangkhanlal Ngaihte
• BPO or Not to BPO - Anthony Tongbram