Young managers to focus on social entrepreneurship

JAMSHEDPUR: XLRI School of Business and Human Resources will host the 5th edition of the national convention on social entrepreneurship. The two-day meet, to commence from January 25, will witness eminent speakers including T Vijay Kumar, mission director of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM); M Sitaramachandra, senior rural development specialist at World Bank and noted social entrepreneurs like Dr Joe Madiath and rain man Rajendra Singh on one platform.The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Innovations in livelihood promotion and skill development’. The convention aims to bring together about 150 social entrepreneurs, development sector professionals, policymakers and academicians one platform to deliberate and share their experiences.

Madhukar Shukla, chairperson of Fr Arrupe Centre for Ecology and Sustainability, XLRI, said: “Through this convention, we aim to provide an opportunity for our students to explore and discuss the opportunities and challenges for initiatives and social ventures in the sector of ecology and sustainability.”

Over the last few years, livelihood promotion, skill development and vocational training have opened up immense possibilities for entrepreneurship, and have sprouted many innovative social entrepreneurial models.

“Moreover, these goals are also emerging as a significant national priority, as envisaged in National Skill Development Mission (NSDM), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM),” said Shukla.

Jointly organized by Fr Arrupe Centre for Ecology and Sustainability and XLRI’s students’ committee for social initiatives, SIGMA, the convention will showcase various social ventures that made significant impact in creating livelihoods for deprived women and physically challenged people in the rural areas.

Shukla said the importance of the convention could be understood in the backdrop of the fact that the country needs a 500mn strong skilled manpower to continue to grow and the government too is aiming to bring 70mn BPL families out of poverty in the next 10 years through NRLM and NULM programmes.

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