SHILLONG, July 17: In a pioneering collaboration, IIM-Shillong and the Meghalaya government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), whereby IIM-Shillong would organise a series of business plan competitions for college students from across the state. Those who qualify in this competition will receive funding from the government for their start-ups.
Addressing the gathering of faculty and students of IIM Shillong, Director, Prof DP Goyal, stated that this was a historic moment since IIM Shillong is now in its 16th year and is also the preferred destination for the brightest students from across the country who wish to pursue their management course there. “IIM Shillong has established partnerships with 23 global institutions, which are among the top schools in the world, after which students will receive full-term credit from the foreign partners,” Prof. Goyal said, adding that while students learn the value systems of India, they are also exposed to global practices.
Prof. Goyal emphasised that it is time for IIM Shillong to contribute to the economic growth of Meghalaya through such partnerships.
Chairman, Board of Governors, Shishir Bajoria, remarked that it is providential that the MoU should be signed on the 189th death anniversary of the great freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiemlieh, whose valiant efforts contributed to the freedom of the country. Bajoria stated that IIM Shillong has grown from 350 to 900 students currently on campus. “IIM Shillong has also signed an MoU with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. I request the Government to send its officers to train there to optimize their potential. Further, we also propose to register the APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis as a Section 8 Company so that it can optimize its potential,” Bajoria said, adding that IIM Shillong proposes to also offer undergraduate courses and would require additional space for that project from the Government.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who returned from Delhi, drove straight to IIM Shillong from Guwahati Airport. A visibly enthused Sangma said he had wanted to sign the MoU with IIM Shillong for a long time to explore multiple angles on how the Institute could help facilitate the business plan competition. However, it was only when IIM Professor Teidor Lyngdoh met him to discuss environment-friendly entrepreneurial ventures that things have now been formalised and would move forward.
Addressing the audience, Conrad said, “It is important to move towards a knowledge economy in a challenging world, and there’s nothing better than working with an IIM. We have invested our thoughts, plans, our hearts in this venture and are excited about working on business plans for our youth.”
Conrad also said that leadership is a critical need in all sectors and that the government would be happy to depute officers for capacity-building training at the best institutions because governments today have to function like corporates and produce results. “While funding is available from different agencies, there are too many processes to be followed, and this requires capacity. Our senior-level officers can work through this maze of paperwork, but it is at the lower level where programmes are to be delivered to the people that there is sluggishness, and that needs to be addressed,” Conrad said, adding that the central government is ready to give an interest-free loan with a 50-year repayment schedule for infrastructural development, but most states do not have the absorption capacity, mainly because the processes are tedious. However, Meghalaya has availed the loan of Rs 700 crore twice and thrice over.
Conrad also said he is happy that IIM Shillong would also help in building the capacities of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) because the Councillors need to understand the needs and challenges of the times. Sharing with the audience how Meghalaya has been able to bring down the maternal mortality ratio (MMR), which at one time was as high as 220/one lakh births, Conrad said, “We had to study the reasons for this phenomenon, and through different trials, we were able to understand why maternal deaths happened and to address those gaps. Today, the number has come down to 113, which is more than 55% from what it was earlier, and we are trying to further reduce this number.”
Conrad challenged the IIM students to develop leadership skills and also to get out of the campus to explore possibilities of assisting the state in any way. He told the students to send him a message if they hit upon a good idea, and the Government would even fund those ideas if they can help the state move towards equity, social justice, better health, and educational outcomes.
He ended on a personal note and said to the students, “At the end of the day, whatever you do, be a good human being. Keep your ears to the ground and be humble at all times.”
The CM also planted an orange tree on the IIM campus.
It may be mentioned that Prof. Teidor Lyngdoh and his team will be driving the business plan competition, the timeline for which is July to September.
