Govt floats tender for funding BPOs in small towns

New Delhi: Government has invited bids from companies willing to set up call centres in small towns with financial support under India BPO Promotion Scheme.

"Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) invites online bids through Request For Proposal (RFP) from the eligible companies, who are desirous of setting up BPO/ITES operations, under the India BPO Promotion Scheme," the tender said.

The IBPS under Digital India Programme provides financial support in the form of viability gap funding to eligible companies engaged in creation of employment opportunities by promoting IT and IT enabled services (ITES) particularly by setting up BPO or ITES operations.

The IBPS also seeks to incentivise establishment of 48,300 seats in respect of BPO or ITES operations across the country. The number of seats is distributed among each state in proportion of its population.

The government will provide capital support of up to 50 percent of one time expenditure incurred with an upper ceiling of Rs 1 lakh per seat.

Special incentives will also be provided within the ceiling amount.

The special incentives have been linked to employment for women, person with disabilities and providing jobs beyond the set target.

Companies setting up BPOs in hilly area of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will get special package.

Government has also relaxed turnover criteria for companies setting up facility in these regions.