To empower people with disabilities and create job opportunities for them, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled on Friday launched Kirana, a rural BPO centre, in Bidadi.
Set up in association with the State-run Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Service s(KBITS), the rural call centre will provide jobs to 100 disabled and rural youth in and around Bidadi.
Strong network
Mahantesh G.K., managing trustee of Samarthanam, said the centre will host disabled friendly workstations and infrastructure. “It will be supported by Samarthanam's strong network of well-wishers in the telecom industry, financial institutions, multinational corporations and government agencies,” he said.
The purpose of starting a rural call centre was to open up employment opportunities for disabled young people of rural background.
The centre is being supported by Hewlett Packard and T.E. Connectivity, apart from the KBITS. “We have requested several mainstream corporate sector companies to outsource their work to Kirana.
In 2010, the trust had started Shrishti, call centre training units in Bangalore and Hubli. This was set up in association with the State Department of Welfare of the Disabled and Senior Citizens, Union Ministries of Personnel and Public Grievances and Pensions and Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.
State's gesture
K.V. Rajanna, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities said Karnataka is the first State to hike the reservation for people with disabilities to 5 per cent. Organisations such as Samarthanam should identify the talent and fill the quota, he said.
The call centre was inaugurated by Dharwad MLA Chandrakanth Bellad. Sujatha Shivalinge Gowda, president of Ramanagaram Taluk Panchayat, handed over the appointment letters to the employees of the centre.
The Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled is an associate member of the World Blind Union, Geneva. It has been striving since 1997 to empower the visually impaired, disabled and underprivileged people.
Vacancies
The trust now has vacancies for tele-callers and data entry operators. People with disabilities who are graduates are invited to apply.
Companies interested in outsourcing their business to Samarthanam's Kirana may call 9449864688 or 9449864774.
