In 2006, when students of Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM-L) were penalised for violating the institution's norms, they may have resented the move.
But two years down the line, they feel proud of paying the fine as the little mistakes they made has "lit up" lives of 30-odd families of Chakarpurwa village, which shares its boundary with the IIM.
"The fine realised by the students was utilised to electrify the village. Our students unknowingly contributed for a bigger cause," Chairman of IIM-L's Committee for Social Initiative, DS Sengar, told PTI.
The story of this secret contribution started in 2006, when IIM-L's students were asked to visit a nearby village as part of a social initiative programme on World Poverty Day.
"During their visit the students found that Charkarpurwa, which shares its boundary with the institute sans electricity, though it was very much within the city municipal limits. At that time we decided to adopt the village and take up the electrification issue with the authorities concerned," Sengar said.
Subsequently, the IIM team approached senior officials including district magistrate (DM), chief development officer (CDO) and even the commissioner, but their request of village electrification was turned down.
"We were told that being a small village, it does not figure in the list of rural electrification," Sengar said.
{{/usCountry}}"We were told that being a small village, it does not figure in the list of rural electrification," Sengar said.
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