Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated a women-only Business Process Outsourcing centre under JSW Shakti Foundation in Dimapur, marking a first for the Northeast.
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DIMAPUR — A women-centric BPO under JSW Shakti Foundation—the first of its kind in the Northeast—was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Integrated Business Hub and Innovation Centre (IBHIC) in Dimapur by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
Launched in partnership with the state government through the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), the JSW Shakti Women-Centric BPO aims to empower women by creating sustainable employment, building skills and expanding livelihood opportunities.
The project is being implemented under the CSR framework of JSW Foundation, with revenues generated to be reinvested into development initiatives in the state.
The BPO will begin operations with 125 employees, offering salaries ranging from INR 13,000 to over INR 80,000 per month, with plans to scale up in the coming months.
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Addressing the programme, Rio described the IDAN–JSW Foundation partnership as meaningful and future-oriented, as it focuses on skills, technology and employment—key pillars for a future-ready workforce.
He said that the collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding, would provide training and job opportunities, particularly for underprivileged women, while boosting their economic and social empowerment.
The chief minister lauded IDAN’s role in promoting Brand Nagaland and forging strategic partnerships, expressing optimism that such collaborations would accelerate growth and development in the state.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance employment, skills and community development, especially for youth and women.
Nagaland, Rio said, possesses immense human potential, particularly its educated and adaptable youth, with women playing a vital role in society and the economy.
The government remains committed to creating an enabling environment where women can participate fully and confidently in the modern economy, he added.
“Over the years, our government has taken concerted steps to promote women’s entrepreneurship, skill development and employment.
“Today’s initiative is an important milestone in that journey. This women-centric BPO aligns perfectly with our vision and offers young women a professional, technology-driven workspace to build careers and achieve financial independence,” he said.
Rio expressed confidence that the initiative would not only create jobs but also inspire young people that meaningful opportunities can be created within the state.
IDAN chairman Abu Metha said that the entire investment for setting up the BPO has been made by JSW Shakti and JSW Foundation under their CSR initiatives.
He disclosed that close to INR 6 crore has been invested in the first phase to establish what he described as a “world-class” facility.
He announced plans to expand the workforce beyond the initial 125 employees, with discussions underway to set up additional BPOs in Nagaland, including in Kohima, aiming to employ up to 500 people in the coming months.
Highlighting the economic impact, Metha said that with an average salary of INR 20,000–INR 25,000, the annual salary outflow alone could exceed INR 10–15 crore, significantly boosting the local economy.
He added that the government’s vision is to create jobs at home and encourage talented youth working outside the state to return.
Metha also said that many Naga youth face challenges, including discrimination, while working elsewhere in the country, and said the BPO was about empowerment, dignity and bringing people back home to live and work with their families.
JSW Shakti Foundation chief operating officer Rahul Dev recalled Chief Minister Rio’s visit to the Vijayanagar facility, where the idea of a similar centre in Nagaland was first discussed.
He said that the IBHIC in Dimapur provided an ideal location, describing the facility as better than their Vijayanagar centre and comparable to international BPO standards.
He informed that the first process would begin with Zepto. According to him, JSW Shakti currently operates four centres across India—in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka—making this its first venture in the Northeast.
Dev said that the BPO supports seven languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi and English, and expressed confidence that Nagaland’s strong English-speaking workforce would contribute to high customer satisfaction ratings.