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28 ongoing projects
IIM-C’s Initiative for Community Action (INCA) started with the mission of “serving those who serve others” about a decade ago. Started by a few students and professors with four projects in 1997-98, the initiative has 28 ongoing projects today.
Of the 600 students in the Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM), the core programme at IIM-C, about a 100 students are involved in providing consultancy services to various organisations. The students get no academic credit for their INCA projects. But all participants report a satisfying learning experience not available elsewhere.
Learning experience
“Since NGOs are non-profit making, they cannot hire professional consultants. This is where management students fit in and provide help,” said Chaitanya Komaravalli, the student coordinator of INCA.
The students help in various projects — ranging from HR restructuring to marketing research. Komaravalli added, “I was involved with market research of an organisation that trained women in making handicrafts.”
“We are not professional consultants. In case, students involved in a project run into trouble, we consult the professor overseeing the entire project,” said Debtosh Mishra, external relations secretary of IIM-C.
Alumni help
The 1981-82 batch of IIM-C alumni donated Rs 15 lakh in 2007 for the development of the campus. INCA suggested that the money be used to provide training to mess workers in various hostels. About 60 workers, in the age group of 18 to 40, have been identified for training in basic English and computing skills. The project is expected to take off this month.
Professor of Business Environment, Raghbendra Chattopadhyay, said, on the whole, involvement of students in such activities is on the rise. “Projects of this nature help students attain a better understanding of the business environment,” he said. However, he described academic pressure as a deterrent to more students joining in.
The NGOs are certainly glad for the help and are full of praise for the young managers. Yuveka Singh, a representative of NGO Praajak feels that the students, other than interviewing workers, have provided a lot of logistical support.
“With the active participation of the students, we will organise an event on the National Youth Policy on January 26 at the campus,” she said.
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