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L.N. Revathy

Youngsters doing MT work from home and earning a tidy sum are happy. But, they warn, you need to have a flair for the job.

Archana joined college but was forced to discontinue because of family circumstances. In such a situation, most youngsters would have given up hopes of making it good, especially in a city like Mumbai. But Archana enrolled for training in medical transcription.

After two years on a job, she quit to work from home. Today, she earns enough to support the family. "I am able to help my Mom and don't have to worry about getting into the electric train to reach the office on time during peak hours. The crowd is maddening," she says.

"A degree is important, but without that, I am making about Rs 25,000 a month. I work for 6-7 hours a day," she says.

Down South, in Coimbatore, Sanjay, Rajan Bose and Janakiraman (all commerce graduates) endorse Archana's sentiments. "After graduation, I earned a meagre Rs 2,000 per month on small jobs. Then I noticed an advertisement wherein a medical transcription company invited applicants for training with a monthly stipend of Rs 3,750.

I opted for the training. After completion, I accepted Spryance's offer and worked for two years before deciding to continue from home," says Sanjay.

He works 11-12 hours a day and pockets nothing less than Rs 30,000 a month.

Rajan Bose has a problem. His father has to undergo dialysis every fifth day and he is certain that no office will grant leave that liberally. This way, "there is enough flexibility and I earn more than I would sitting in some office. I am able to take care of my father too," he says.

Subish, after completing his diploma in Software Engineering, was jobless for almost six months.

"I had to earn. Diploma holders are not paid well by the industry. So I took up training in medical transcription. I have no regrets.."

They are all home-based MTs for Spryance, which is into medical transcription. There are over 1,500 home-based MTs on the company's rolls and the number is said to be rising by the day. In Coimbatore alone, there are over 200 transcriptionists working from home.

Women particularly find it more convenient as they are able to work at their pace and without much stress. But surprisingly, there are a number of young men who prefer to work from home.

Economic independence, learning experience and the convenience of working from home seem to have attracted more people, especially those who hate the thought of travelling that extra mile to reach their work spot on time.

The number of housewives with grown-up children taking up MT jobs is on the rise. Over a period of time, they grow to become proof-readers and editors.

"The training and growth may sound simple. Unless one has a flair for the language and medical terminology, apart from hard work, you can only dream big but achieve nothing," says Divya, Proof Reader and Quality Analyst at Hykon Transcripts (P) Ltd.

This youngster has completed her Masters in Mass Communication.

At a time when professionally qualified people find it difficult to land a good job, and when they do take up an assignment find that the pay packet is a pittance after all those years of hard work, these youngsters not only make enough money from their homes but also dream big.

lnr@thehindu.co.in

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