Industry-starved Patna got its first business process outsourcing (BPO) unit on Wednesday.

The BPO - Maestros Technical Services Private Limited - will provide jobs to 150 youths.

Union minister for law & justice and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the call centre at Patliputra Colony. The BPO has been set up as part of the Union government's Digital India campaign.

The unit will deal with the products of the Centre's Digital India campaign. Under the programme, the government plans to introduce broadband highways, universal access to mobile connectivity, public Internet access programme, information technology (IT) for jobs and much more. The BPO will assist residents who are using the products.

Swatantra Kumar Bharti, 30, an engineering graduate from Lovely Professional Institute in Punjab, bagged the tender issued by the Union IT ministry to set up the call centre. Bharti along with his Lovely Professional Institute batchmate Brijbehari Kumar, 30, invested Rs 80 lakh to open the call centre.

"I am from Samastipur and always had a dream to set up a venture in Patna to provide jobs to the youths of Bihar who go hunting for jobs in Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad," Bharti said.

Sources said the Union IT ministry, as part of Indian BPO Promotion Scheme, will provide Rs 70 lakh to the duo after technical verification of the project.

"We are proud of the first BPO in Patna," Ravi Shankar said after inaugurating the call centre.

The youths who were offered jobs by Maestros were happy that they will not have to leave their home state.

Neelam Mishra from Patna, who was offered a data operating position, said: "After my diploma in computer applications I was looking for a job in Patna. The BPO has come as a boon. The company is offering Rs 7,500 per month during my training."

Sumit Kumar, who has an advanced diploma in computer applications, said: "The BPO will lead other companies to come forward to set up more such call centres in Patna. Youths will benefit the most through such projects."

Software firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is also planning to set up a call centre at Patliputra Colony with a capacity of 1,000 workers.

The Union IT minister said: "The Centre's efforts towards a digital India has gained momentum. After TCS, proposals have come for opening call centres in small towns such as Dalsinghsarai and Muzaffarpur. Such units will provide jobs to youths."