Joint director of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Ranchi, Siddharth Kumar Rai on why Jharkhand is poised to become the BPO hub of the east
TT: STPI-Ranchi was set up in 2006. What has been the progress so far?
SKR: Incredible! We started slowly, but now STPI-Ranchi has started taking long strides
Please elaborate
STPI-Ranchi, in Namkum, hosts six IT and two ESDM (Electronics System Design & Manufacturing) companies. There is no space left. But owing to the huge response from start-ups we are trying to set up a 25,000sqft incubation centre
What about business?
From 2006 till the last fiscal, companies associated with STPI and its schemes have exported IT-related products and services worth Rs 150 crore. In the 2018-19 fiscal, we expect business to be around Rs 100 crore
Any plans to set up more STPIs?
STPIs are coming up in Jamshedpur, Deoghar, Dhanbad and Bokaro
When will they start operations?
STPI-Jamshedpur is coming up on 3.5 acres with 70,000sqft office space. Dhanbad and Bokaro STPIs are coming up on 3 acres, each with 55sqft office space. We want them to start this fiscal
And Bokaro?
Around 1.5 acre has been identified in JIADA (Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority). Now, we will start civil work
How has the Indian BPO scheme fared?
It received a huge response in the first year itself. Initially, 1,500 seats were allocated for Jharkhand. But applications have touched 4,000. In 2018-19, 8,000 seats will be on offer
Reason?
Low cost of living and infrastructure. In addition to incentives offered by the IBPO scheme, the state government’s BPO policy of 2016 offers more sops. Clubbed together, operational costs of any company setting up shop here will come down drastically. Also, the attrition rate in cities like ours is much less, which works out as an added bonus for employers
So, BPO is growing in Jharkhand?
Absolutely. Jharkhand is being seen as the BPO hub of east India
Any other plan?
We are developing an IT Park at an unused government building on Khunti Road with 80,000sqft space.
