Students of Vinod Gupta School of Management of IIT Kharagpur have drawn up a programme called ‘Saamanjasya’ (or Equity) for technology upgradation of artisans of Bengal and marketing their wares, with an eventual target to locate and incubate entrepreneurs.
The institutes engineering and law students too have joined the initiative.
“No IIT or IIM has done a programme like this. Over 170 students of the management school is organizing it. The entire first year and second year batch of IIT Kharagpur too are participating,” said Muhammad Muddassar, a first year engineering student.
The students have already identified several class of artisans, which includes people associated with handicrafts, weaving, stitching, printing on fabric, making paper packets, making items from dokra and terracotta. The students will be approaching all other IITs and IIMs.
“We would be happy to help talented artisans in other parts of the country and for that we would require their help,” said Muddassar.
“The artisans will display their work in the campus. IIT-Kharagpur has an entrepreneurship cell, which will be providing seed capital to the talented artisans to start their own business,” said Jatin Grover, another student associated with ‘Saamanjasya.
“Our target is to link them with NGO’s who network with national and international funding agencies. It may help them find a foothold not only nationally but globally,” added Grover.
{{/usCountry}}“Our target is to link them with NGO’s who network with national and international funding agencies. It may help them find a foothold not only nationally but globally,” added Grover.
{{/usCountry}}“We will study their problems and the faculty will be involved in finding solutions. We will help upgrade technology and work systems.
Legal help, too, will be provided,” said Ravinder Pal Singh Dhillon another student.
The students have already tied up with NGOs like CRY, WWF, Save The Children, Saarthi, India Sponsor Foundation and Oxfam.