Social Entrepreneurship boards the train
Tuesday January 05, 2010 , 3 min Read
Social Entrepreneurship is the new genre of Entrepreneurship that’s fast catching up in the E-circle of the Indian youth. Although NGOs have been long involved in the various social issues confronting the present and the future India, with the advent of Social Entrepreneurship, it’s getting a shape and form that is drawing the powerful force of the youth.
The initiative by Jagriti Sewa Sansthan, a not-for-profit organisation and the title sponsor Tata Group, The Tata Jagriti Yatra seeks to promote skill and enterprise led development through an annual train journey that that takes hundreds of India's highly motivated youth between the ages of 20-25 and experienced professionals with age above 25, on a eighteen day national odyssey, introducing them to unsung heroes of India. Their aim is to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship - both social and economic - within India's youth by exposing them to individuals and institutions that are developing unique solutions to India's challenges.
Brain child of the IIT Alumnus Mr. Shashank Mani, the yatra towards a better India began in 1997 when Shashank organized a train journey across which he named “Azad Bharat Rail Yatra”. About a 200 young Indians took off in a specially chartered train and visited the historical places that once were the epicentre of action, freedom struggle, economic development, spiritual enlightenment and education, to get a sense of how the country had changed in the past fifty years of independence, and what needed to be accomplished in the future. During the journey they discussed, debated, disagreed and developed new and improved models of growth.
Every year on the 24th of December from Mumbai begins this voyage of rediscovering the Incredible India in its true sense. Entrepreneurs of every kind, all united by the passion to be the change board the train in which they will rewrite the fate of the future India.
I was immensely thrilled when I got my selection letter as one of the sponsored yatris, and was all set to start a life-time experience of adventure, excitement, learning and connections. It was extremely disappointing that I had to cancel my trip as a yatri for very unfortunate reasons, but what the heck!, ofcourse, yatris would have their part of adventure and connections, but excitement and learning can be re-lived. I called up my friends who are on the TJY train and decided to interview them on their experiences as a yatri during the journey so that not only me, but all the followers at YourStory, who couldn’t make it to the 18 day long journey, can share the excitement and learning.
Keyhighlights:
From Manoj, CEO, Naandi’s jottings:
on corruption: give them a deal they can’t refuse, and u can still be honest one hundred percent.
In the lovely building of TCS, took place an exciting discussion on 'funding SMEs'. Absolutely enriching and thought provoking!
In the beautiful, clean, sanitation enabled village of Moudha, Orissa, listening to Joe Madiath of Gram Vikas - QnA is just fabulous
A fabulous clockwork day! Absolutely refreshing experience followed by some yummy dhokla and coffee! We move on!
Watch out for the next post for a detailed interview with some of the Entrepreneurs on board and deeper insights.
covered for YourStory by Nithya Nagarathinam [email protected]
