SHILLONG, Jan 6: With the objective of ushering in development of entrepreneurial culture among the Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes living in the North East, the Incubation and Enterprise Support Centre (IESC) at Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce Industry (DICCI) on Wednesday.
Chairman of the IESC, Prof Sanjeeb Kakoty, said, “The MoU will advance research, entrepreneurship and MSME development projects through short-term programmes, faculty exchange, and infrastructure sharing”.
Moreover, banking on the calibre of youths from the region, Professor DP Goyal, Director of IIM Shillong, said, “One of the objectives of the institute (IIM Shillong) is to train the people of North East to enhance their employability and entrepreneurial capabilities. Through this close monitoring and support network, IIM Shillong and DICCI will help the youths transform their energy and ideas into a successful venture”.
Rooted in the idea of promoting social and business entrepreneurship in the North East, the collaboration will also lead to sharing of experts, faculty and business mentors between the two parties.
Reflecting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ or self-reliance, SK Bajoria, Chairman, Board of Directors at IIM, Shillong, explained, “To achieve a ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, we need to have ‘atmanirbhar’ North East… irrespective of caste creed or colour”.
Founded in 2005 by Padma Shri Dr Milind Kamble, DICCI aims to instil the spirit of entrepreneurship among SC and ST youths so that they can compete with the rest of the world.
Meanwhile Ravi Kumar Narra, national president of DICCI, expressed enthusiasm on the collaboration.
