XIM-B kicks off rural exposure programme

As a part of its endeavour to prepare future corporate managers with a human face, Xavier Institute of Management-Bhubaneswar (XIMB) is providing opportunity to its students to bond with the rural folks.

XIMB has teamed up with Varrat, a local NGO (non-governmental organization) based at Mahakalpada block of Orissa's Kendrapara district to provide rural exposure to 180 students of the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programme.

In the first phase, 60 PGDM students of XIMB spent two days at the Mahakalpada block to get a feel of the various aspects of rural life such as livelihood, education, health and environment.

The students generated awareness among the villagers on their rights and duties as consumers of electricity with the help of the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).

They also had intense interaction with village level stakeholders on vital aspects of rural life and important forces that impact rural life and livelihood.

P T Joseph, director, XIMB said, “Rural exposure for PGDM graduates is needed since it is essential for them to understand the reality of rural life to enable them to fulfill their corporate social responsibility as future managers.

S P Das, the XIMB faculty coordinating the rural exposure programme, said, “The programme has helped the students to develop their sensitivity to the rural problems and prospects. The institute has taken a bold step and made a very good beginning. Such programmes will be undertaken as an on-going process of our management education.”