IIM-K's Backwaters fest a big draw

Business schools from around the country came together for Backwaters 2007, the annual management and cultural festival organised by the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K).

Nearly 200 participants from various business schools converged at IIM-K to participate in the festival, which was held from January 12 to 14. The social B-Plan contest, christened RIL White Knight competition, was the flagship event of Backwaters 2007.

The top ten teams from several hundred entries were invited to present their proposals in front of a distinguished panel. Participants came up with ideas that would make a significant difference to agriculture, rural development and healthcare and renewable energy.

The team from ISB took home the honours. Their idea was a model that facilitates the transfer of simple, low-cost technologies to rural communities. Dealing with the SSI sector, they proposed to use just 1 per cent of the SSI budget outlay of the government to drive rural industrial growth.

Rural tourism and BPOs to promote alternative livelihood were the tools of choice for the team from SPJIMR, who finished second. The winners walked away with a prize of Rs 1 lakh with an additional Rs 1 lakh donated to a charity of the winning team's choice.

The uniqueness of the competition was that these and three other ideas that came up at the event are to be presented to the PMO as the contribution of budding business leaders to society.

The three-day fest came to an end with a performance by Euphoria. The teams were awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh with another Rs 1 lakh being donated to a charity of the winners' choice.

The event was sponsored by Reliance Industries, RPG, Cognizant, Bristlecone, Lenovo and Airtel. Pagalguy was the knowledge partner and Business Standard, the print media partner for the event.