Jim Morrison’s song ‘Come on baby light my fire’, or Eric Clapton’s ‘Cocaine’ which romanticized drugs in the 70s and 80s, continue to appeal to young ‘dudes’ working in call centres in India. While the use of drugs such as cannabis is illegal in India, and carries a possible prison sentence, joints are still rolled every night in the high tech villages.

What makes youngsters smoke cannabis, despite being aware of the dire consequences? A youngster, on condition of anonymity told the Examiner: “After you smoke weed, you tend to feel drowsy, though this drowsiness is different from its literal meaning, it takes the user to a carefree state. It builds immense patience and helps in dealing the stress related job with patience”.

A customer care executive’s job is not just to resolve queries but also to keep his temper, and not break to the aggression of an aggrieved caller, which happens quite often. Also, the kids who smoke 'whacky baccy', during their breaks offered by company prefer going in groups as it fills their need to socializee. “It is important in a profession that allows you to leave your desk only for 45 minutes during a shift of nine hours” claimed one user who is also aware of the negative aspects of drugs.

When we asked a senior customer care executive to comment on the matter, he said: “ I don’t do drugs, but have heard from word of mouth about guys who smoke-up in the parking zone or outside the premises. But I don’t compliment associating drugs with BPO. BPO doesn't teachor force you to do drugs, I have been working in this industry for close to six years now, but have never tried or felt the urge to try. To my knowledge, college students are the ones who fancy drugs more than anyone in India. If someone says that a big chunk of the BPO guys hit pubs almost every day, I would accept that, because I have witnessed that.'

What the HR Said:
Does that mean smoking cannabis is common in all call centres across India, has the 70s and 80s era returned? No said a source from the HR department, from a call centre based in Mumbai. 'We don’t recruit druggies. BPOs maintain high standards while recruiting employees, not only their background is checked, one has to go through the drug test, which is done either by taking urine sample or through a blood test. A druggie can’t escape these tests. People tote a misconception that BPOs recruit any and everybody. Academics may not be given top priority like an IT company, but no-where will we sacrifice on the quality or tolerate any nuisance.

'People carry this myth that BPO “hangs a damn” on what their employees do. It’s near to impossible for an individual to fool around in a BPO, as an individual is continuously monitored. If someone does drugs, a change in behaviour is bound to show. His style of speaking, speed of speech, his ability to concentrate, his ability to remember things, all will get affected and it gets noticed either in the quality check, by team leaders on the floor and even by clients, as even they monitor the quality. Anyone who gets caught gets terminated with immediate effect.'

With drug doers and HR people singing different tunes, there's a question about the amount drugs are abused. But it’s important for youngsters not to get influenced by cannabis and to restrict its use to sadhus (sages) up on the foothills of the Himalayas praying for salvation. X