Rio inaugurates women-centric Business Process Outsourcing in Dimapur

In a significant boost to women’s empowerment and employment generation in the State, a women-centric Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centre was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Integrated Business Hub & Innovation Centre, Forest Colony, Dimapur.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and JSW Foundation under JSW Shakti programme, which operates women-only BPO centres across rural India. It aims to create localised employment opportunities and promote economic independence for women above 18 years through structured training and IT-enabled services.
Addressing the inaugural programme, chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio described the initiative as a shared commitment to inclusive growth, skill development and women’s empowerment. He said the State’s greatest strength lies in its people, particularly its youth, and noted that Naga women have always played a dynamic role in society as economic contributors and community leaders.
Rio reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for women to confidently participate in the modern economy. He said the women-centric BPO aligns with the State’s vision by providing a professional, technology-driven workspace where young women can build careers and achieve financial independence.
He lauded IDAN under the leadership of Abu Metha for positioning Nagaland as an investment-friendly State and expressed gratitude to JSW Foundation chairperson Sangita Jindal for her leadership in social development initiatives. Rio assured corporate partners of the government’s full support in generating employment and uplifting communities.
Chief Operating Officer of JSW Shakti Foundation, Rahul Dev, expressed appreciation to IDAN for providing institutional support and said the Dimapur facility was among the best set-ups compared to other JSW centres in the country.
He informed that JSW currently operates four such centres nationwide and that the Dimapur unit is the first in the North East. Observing that Nagas possess strong English communication skills, he encouraged youth to seize the opportunity and become agents of change.
In his opening remarks, IDAN chairman Abu Metha termed the launch a “significant step for Nagaland”, stating that it is the first women-centric BPO facility in the North East region.
Metha expressed gratitude to chief minister Neiphiu Rio for his unwavering support and vision to generate employment opportunities within the State, enabling youth to find meaningful work closer to home. He also acknowledged the support extended by deputy chief minister Y. Patton.
He said the project, set up under JSW’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, involved an investment of nearly Rs 6 crore in its first phase and would initially employ 125 women with salaries starting from Rs 13,000 and above.
Metha informed that the centre was inaugurated within six months of conceptualisation and that plans were underway to expand operations. He added that one of the objectives was to encourage Naga youth working outside the State to return home and work in a professional environment.
The programme was chaired by under secretary of IDAN, I. Changsang, while the dedicatory prayer was offered by associate pastor DABA, Imnatoshi Longkumer.