The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sambalpur, has signed an agreement with a research institute to develop entrepreneurship skills among indigenous youth and provide them with quality education.
The Memorandum of Understanding with the Center for Adivasi Research and Development was recently signed for multimodal initiatives and projects in education, skills, training and global outreach, IIM Sambalpur said in a release.
IIM Sambalpur director Mahadeo Jaiswal described Odisha’s tribal handicrafts as impressive. Indigenous artisans and artisans could earn a good living, but they lack the entrepreneurial skills and a good market for their products, Jaiswal said.
“With the signing of the MoU, the IIM will now work to develop entrepreneurial skills among indigenous youth and work on their capacity building,” he said.
Efforts will be made to provide equal space and opportunity by linking them to the global market so that the exquisite tribal handicrafts can get a good and competitive price, the official said.
The institute will also make efforts to provide a good market for agri products, which are in high demand, but the tribals are not getting a fair price for their products due to the lack of good initiative, the director said.
The B-School will also try to prepare the next generation of foundation children for quality education. “Although there is restraint in educational institutions, you will not find many tribal students in higher education institutions.
“We will explore how more and more indigenous students can get higher education in good institutions,” Jaiswal said. The IIM faculties and students will visit tribal areas of the state from the next academic session. “We will also have the support of Ravenshaw University and Central University of Odisha for this purpose,” he added.
