Is BPO the magical mantra of today? What makes a BPO career so lucrative to the ordinary mortals? Is it beginning to affect our day to day lives?

I was surprised to see Rani, the office assistant, the other day. Her hair was neatly plastered across her forehead, and twirled into an oily plait, while she looked neat in a crisp cotton salwar kameez, freshly ironed and actually wore a smile, in stead of her usual scowl! Looking at the transformation in her appearance, I asked her what the reason was.

She proudly informed me in her broken English Madaam I got new job in BPO. Her salary jumped from a paltry Rs. 3000 to a starting of Rs. 10000, more than what anyone in her family had ever earned or aspired to earn! She hoped to make a difference to her family and social status, not to mention the pride she took in landing herself this coveted job!Then, Mary my temperamental cook, actually looked cheerful and happy, as she proudly informed me that her daughter will be quitting school after her Xth Std. I was aghast and wanted to know why? She beamed and told me someone had promised to get her daughter a job in the BBO near her house and that she would then work for foreign companies and talk to foreign peoples.When the driver did not show up for a few days, I thought it was his usual I was sick, father was sick, mother was sick story. It was only after two weeks that he arrived with a small box of sweets, and proudly informed me that he had now got a job in the BPO and will now be working at double the salary I was paying him!Are BPOs changing lives? Are they going to cause a social revolution? Are they the Best Professional Offer available today to many? Is this a flash in the pan or will it last? So many questions crop up in my mind, as my life is changing faster than I can keep pace with, and only because of the BPOs