IIM-Calcutta joins hands with state for youth business show
Kolkata :
Taking a cue from Bengaluru, which has turned into an entrepreneurial hub with several start-up companies making a name for themselves, the Bengal government plans to focus on encouraging start-ups.
As the first step, a television show has been lined up with a prominent channel which will be hosted by former skipper and Bengal’s icon Sourav Ganguly.
The Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) will join hands with the state to identify prospective start up entrepreneurs through the programme. As one of the top B-schools in the country, IIM-C will also help the winners set up incubation facilities inside the innovation park on campus. The seed funding for the business plans identified as having prospects in future will be given by the MSME department.
“We have already received more than 1,500 applications from across the state. One of the criterion for selection was that the applicant needed to be based in Bengal. A business proposal that has been implemented and has an existing unit not more than three years old can also apply. The applications will be evaluated by a team comprising faculty members from IIM-C, along with industrialists. Those shortlisted will be asked to demonstrate the business proposal in person before the panel of judges. A final list of participants will then be drawn up,” said IIM-C professor Ashok Banerjee.
In the show — Egiye Bangla — participants will showcase their business plans on which they will be judged by a panel consisting of members from the business fraternity.
“Participants can make business proposals on any industry apart from gambling, tobacco, liquor, explosives and fire arms. The parameters on which the applicants will be judged will include novelty of the business plan. Any other existing company which may have implemented a similar business idea will also be judged. The idea of the show is to offer a platform to budding entrepreneurs,” Banerjee added.
In 2013, the MSME department and IIM-C had signed an agreement during the synergy meet, where the B-school agreed to be a knowledge partner in the entire journey of Shilpa Karun Bangla Gorun. Egiye Bangla is the culmination of a combined effort.
“Youths from Bengal prefer to go outside the state for their higher education. People here do not take entrepreneurship as a feasible option. Historically, we prefer desk jobs or a stable job with the government sector over taking the adventurous route in career. Hence, IIM-C wanted to collaborate with the state government to inculcate aspirations among the youth, bringing entrepreneurship in as another option apart from the regular jobs,” the professor explained.
“The reality show is scheduled to be telecast from December,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kolkata / by Somdatta Basu, TNN / November 15th, 2015
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South Kolkata breaks away from tradition
Kolkata :
Bhawanipore, a conservative, middle-class neighbourhood in south Kolkata, had broken away from tradition and started worshipping an aggressive image of Goddess Kali as Chamunda way back in 1941.
While the rest of the city worshipped the divine Shyama, Harish Park has stood out with its 20-feet-tall idol of Chamunda
Nothing much about this Puja seems to have changed in the last 75 years. The height of the idol has increase, but the rituals remain same.
Legend has it that the Puja, which started off with a regular Shyama idol, took its present form when the priest had a dream in which the Godess advised him to worship Chamunda instead of Kali at the venue. After the dream, the priest himself made the idol of Chamunda.
Debashish Mukherjee, member of the Puja committee, said, “Ever since, we have worshipped Chamunda. There has been minor alterations in the image, but it remains essentially the same.”
It was the late artist Prahlad Pal, who made the Chamunda image popular. Every year, thousands from across the city and beyond visit the Puja. During the festive days, a fair is held at the adjoining ground.
In keeping with the tradition, more than 50 members of the organizing committee fast for 24 hours. “Wherever they are, they don’t touch food or water till the puja is over. It usually gets over after midnight. But none breaks their fast till the the bhog has been offered to the Goddess,” said Mukherjee.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / November 12th, 2015