IIM Ranchi & NSDC Collaborate for Skill-Based Livelihood Opportunities in Tribal Communities; Check Details Here

New Delhi: IIM Ranchi and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the strategic implementation and knowledge partner for Skill India Mission, have joined hands to create livelihood opportunities and empower Tribal Entrepreneurship in Jharkhand through skill-based interventions, aiming to foster the holistic development of tribal communities at the grassroots level.

This collaboration between IIM Ranchi and NSDC showcases their dedication to sustainable socio-economic development and their commitment to driving positive transformations in tribal communities. 

The partnership introduces a unique internship program where 80 interns from IIM Ranchi will actively participate in social projects. They will be integral to the planning and strategy development efforts of Singi Dai Van Vigyan Kendra, a multi-skill development center.

The internship program's focus areas are medicinal plants, horticulture, and aromatic essential oil segments, aligning with the local resources and culture, and providing relevant exposure to the interns in these key segments.

As part of the initiative, the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) second-year students from IIM Ranchi undertook a five-day visit to Vikas Bharti, Bishunpur, Jharkhand. This visit offered them valuable insights into rural development initiatives, encouraging them to brainstorm and explore innovative solutions for promoting sustainability and benefiting the local communities.

A unique internship program was meticulously designed, providing exposure to 80 interns from IIM Ranchi. To formalize and strengthen the program, the students divided themselves into three enterprises. Their efforts focused on creating marketing plans that offered strategies for enhancing agricultural production and fostering community engagement. 

Throughout the one-month internship, interns from nine batches worked together, forming three groups from three verticals, collaborating on a single enterprise. The program has been a resounding success, providing comprehensive training and experiential learning to the participants.

Speaking about the significance of fostering entrepreneurship opportunities in agriculture, medicinal plants, and aromatic oils during the event, Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, the CEO of NSDC and MD of NSDC International, said that this approach plays a crucial role in empowering tribal communities and honing their skills in specialized areas. 

The collaborative efforts between NSDC, IIM Ranchi, and Vikas Bharti aim to provide skill upgradation, robust training, and essential toolkits to the students of IIM Ranchi while extending valuable mentoring support to India's tribal communities. This joint endeavor is aligned with the vision of empowering communities by generating sustainable income.

The collaboration seeks to establish strong relationships with local governments, NGOs, and industry stakeholders, while also facilitating market linkages and industry connections for the locals.

Shri Ved Mani Tiwari stated that each group's submitted plans had impressed them with their innovative strategies, and they were eager to incorporate them into the program to benefit the tribal communities. He further extended his heartfelt congratulations to the students for their remarkable ideas and progressive approaches. 

The IIM Ranchi faculty including Professor Deepak Kumar Srivastava, the Director of IIM Ranchi, highlighted the significance and potential of tribal entrepreneurship in Jharkhand and said that by its strategic plan IIM Ranchi@2030, the IIM Ranchi aspires to become a globally renowned institute with a strong connection to the local community. 

In line with this vision, IIM Ranchi is determined to conduct research on tribal entrepreneurship, aiming to make a real-world impact in the domain of tribal enterprises in India. The institute seeks to elevate the scope of the tribal economy through meaningful contributions to academic and policy discussions.

As a result, the research on tribal entrepreneurship aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the enterprises owned by tribes in tribal regions, encompassing both social and profit-making ventures. 

The research will center on various aspects, including the evolution of enterprises, success stories of community-based initiatives, identification of key success factors and their replicability, utilization of minor forest products to foster new enterprises, skill development among tribes, exploration of challenges and opportunities in tribal areas, and the socio-economic development of tribes in India.

The initiative offers students a valuable chance to enhance their understanding of rural marketing, cooperative societies, and mutually aided self-help groups. Under the guidance of faculty members and experts from IIM, students have the opportunity to make a significant impact by increasing the demand for local products in both national and international markets. 

Upon completing the project, students worked on an industry-market linkage plan, and the most promising pitching plan will be implemented in the NSDC-funded Multi Skill Development cum Women Empowerment center at Balatu. 

Following their research, each group presented a comprehensive report outlining viable and sustainable business models designed to support farmers in establishing market linkages, expanding distribution networks, and developing robust supply value chains.

Furthermore, the students conducted a mapping exercise of various schemes offered by the Government of India in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, and forest produce, including AYUSH, NABARD, SIDBI, and the Medicinal Plant Promotion Board. The goal was to enhance community engagement, foster inclusive growth, and strengthen the region's capacities.

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