PUNE: To provide employment opportunities to youth from rural areas, the Opus Rural Foundation (ORF) announced the inauguration of second rural BPO in Davalgaon, about 80 kilometres from Pune. The foundation has invested one million dollars towards this initiative.

In line with the Digital India campaign, this initiative will increase digital development by providing jobs to people in rural India. ORF has tied up with RuralShores to run this centre. The social development in Dhavalgaon has received accolades from Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as part of his review of the BPO promotion Scheme of the STPI. Set up on 4 acres, this BPO centre will initially hire 300 people and gradually increase that number.

Ramesh Mengawade, Executive Chairman at Opus, said, “It is important to augment farming income in rural areas with other earning opportunities for the youth in their native place. The main aim of this initiative is to create employment for the local youth in smaller, more remote villages and help in their overall growth and development. We are delighted that this project will help with the digitalisation of India’s rural economy.”

“In addition, Opus Rural Foundation is committed towards making an impact in select villages by providing skill development and self-employment opportunities. We will also work with village panchayats for the use of digital technologies to improve the lives of farmers,” Mengawade added.