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WV FOOD STAMP HELPLINE IN INDIA |
| (07/17/2004) |
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If you're receiving food stamps in West Virginia, including a person who is
attached to one of the 600 cases in Calhoun County, and you call the program for
assistance - you'll be talking with someone in India. The State of West Virginia gave a $25 million, five-year contract to out-of-state Citycorp Electronic Financial Services (now J. P. Morgan Chase) to operate the new electronic food stamp program, replacing the old paper stamps. That company, according to state officials, immediately outsourced the contract to a company in India. West Virginia's recipients now get a plastic card with a magnetic swipe strip, like a credit card, that they use to buy food. West Virginia is not alone in purchasing the outsourced service. Food stamp help lines for 41 states are now located overseas. "Nobody told us government contracts are being sent out of the country," said Sen. Larry Rowe, D-Kanawha. "I think it's very short-sighted policy." "I've heard some language barriers, accent barriers," according to the program manager. "It's the same as any customer service or 800 number: You could be talking with someone next door or in Oklahoma." Senator Rowe indicated the issue centers on getting the job done at the smallest cost, but said "The international part of it, I just hate it. We're just losing jobs. It's a shame West Virginia doesn't have these jobs." Calhoun currently has 600 food stamp cases serving 1,421 individuals, according to Jim Morford of the local DHHR office. |
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