Center for Adivasi research and IIM Sambalpur have joined hands to develop entrepreneurship skills among the tribal youth of the state and also offer them quality education. The MoU was signed, keeping in mind a number of options that would be provided to the students like skilling, teaching, global outreach, training etc.
Director of IIM Sambalpur Mr Mahadeo Jaiswal has found Odisha’s tribal handicrafts quite impressive. Even though they are blooming with talent, according to the director, the students lack the enterprise to sell it and also a good market to make a living out of it.
“With the signing of the MoU, the IIM will now work to develop the entrepreneurship skill among tribal youths and work for their capacity building,” Mahadeo Jaiswal stated. Initiatives are being planned to link these small markets to global markets so that there is an increased demand for it, and the products fetch a good and competitive price.
The institute is also fetching a market for its agri-products which has a huge demand, but the lack of proper initiatives is stalling their growth in the market. The B-School also plans to prepare the upcoming generation with proper educational qualities.
“Though there is reservation in educational institutions, one will not find many tribal students in the institutions of higher education”. “We will work on how more and more tribal students will go for higher education in good institutions,” Jaiswal stated.
The IIM faculties and also students will start visiting the rural centres from the next academic session onwards. “We will also take the support of Ravenshaw University and the Central University of Odisha for this purpose,” he mentioned.
Photo Credit: IIM Sambalpur