Network Past Issues

BOARD OF GOVERNORS:

New faces inducted into the Board of Governors of IRMA

V.Vivekanandan is one of IRMA’s first batch (1980-82) participants. He joined South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS) in April 82 when it was a nascent organisation. Mr. Vivekanandan has been its Chief Executive since then, except for a four year break when he worked with one of the member federations of SIFFS in need of crisis management. Under his stewardship, SIFFS has grown from an apex organisation of 10 societies in one district to that of an apex of 150 primary societies and five federations covering 12 districts of south India providing benefits to 30,000 fishermen working on 8000 small boats. SIFFS has also established itself as a leading supplier of inputs needed for fishing: boats, motors, credit, etc. Vivekanandan is also actively associated with a number of national and international organisations and networks in the fisheries sector.

Shri Vivekanandan was co-opted to the Board to represent alumni for a period of two years, with effect from 2nd April, 2007.

S. Sivakumar (PRM-2) is the Chief Executive of the Agri Businesses Division of ITC Limited. This Rs 3500 Crore Division deals with a wide range of products from agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and plantation crops.

He has conceptualised the path-breaking e-Choupal model and is spearheading its roll out across the country. With a vision to cover 100,000 villages by 2010, ITC eChoupal aims to increase incomes and improve the quality of life in rural India while delivering sustainable shareholder value.

Shri Sivakumar was co-opted to the Board to represent alumni for a period of two years with effect from 2nd April, 2007.

Prof Rama Baru: After completing BSc from the University of Kerala, Professor Rama Baru did her MA in Social work. Later she completed her M.Phil and Phd from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. After working as a lecturer at the Nizam Trust, Hyderabad, she had been with the Public Policy Division of the Voluntary Health Association of India, and a faculty at the Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, JNU, Delhi. She has also been a consultant with the UNDP, WHO and a resource person for the UNICEF.

She has contributed chapters on Health care in a number of edited volumes. There is also a book on Private Health Care in India to her credit. She has also contributed research papers extensively in important national International journals. Presently she is associated as an Associate Professor with the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, JNU, New Delhi. Prof. Rama Baru was co-opted to the Board with effect from 2nd April, 2007 to 1st April, 2009.

Prof Rama Baru’s co-option is in place of Fr. E Abraham, whose term expired on 27th February, 2007.

FACULTY

Members of the faculty at IRMA have been involved in a variety of tasks as usual. In this section we provide an overview of the work accomplished by the faculty during the quarter in terms of Publications, MDPs and Consulting Assignments (Completed or initiated) etc.

Publications:

Patel, Ila (2007) Curriculum and Content of the Jeevan Shala Programme of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India, May, WP #199, IRMA.

Shylendra, H.S. (2007) ‘Missing the Forest for the Trees’: An Assessment of the Microfinancial Sector (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2007, June, WP #200, IRMA..

Shylendra, H.S. (2007) “The New Governance Paradigm:Its Meaning and Some Implications for Development” in TM Joseph (ed) Local Governance in India,Concept Publishing Company New Delhi.

MDPs:

• “Marketing Research for Managers” Coordinated by Prof. Anand Venkatesh & Prof. Preeti Priya during May 16- 18, 2007 was attended by over 15 middle level managers from various Dairy Marketing Federation, NGOs and Microfinance institutions across the country.
• “Managerial Effectiveness” coordinated by Prof. Madhavi Mehta during June 25-29 was attended by 24 middle and senior level managers from various units of the Karnataka Milk Fedaration.

Consulting Assignments:

• The Performance of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in India: A Comparative Study of Karnataka and Gujarat’: This is a recently concluded project under the aegis of the MFMI Chair at IRMA where the team consisted of Shri Veerashekarppa from Institue for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore and HS.Shylendra and Samapti Guha from IRMA. The study mainly aimed at analyzing the performance of Self- Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP) in terms of regional disparities and the role played by SHGs as financial intermediaries for the poor ; the nature of the variations observed in the spread and outreach of SBLP across the states and identify the major factors responsible for the varying spread; and understand how the concept of SHG has evolved under SBLP and in what way SHGs are able to help the poor in obtaining easy access to savings and credit facilities from the formal institutions. These objectives have been examined by a comparative analysis of the performance of SBLP between the states of Karnataka and Gujarat. The study revealed that the difference in the growth of SBLP between Karnataka and Gujarat is attributable to the difference noticed in the role played by financial institutions, NGOs and government agencies as Self Help Promoting Insittutions (SHPIs). The SBLP’s growth is linked in a major way to the emergence of SHPIs and support provided to them. The SHGs in both the states have been able to target largely socioeconomically backward households. However, their performance as financial intermediaries has been of a varying nature. In Karnataka, SHGs seem to be performing better both in terms of their management and delivery of savings and credit services as compared to Gujarat. The varying performance is mainly attributable to varying level of institutional support being provided to SHGs. SHGs in Karnataka have shown a better potential in providing more sustainable access to savings and credit to the poor as compared to SHGs in the Gujarat. . Further, SHGs formed and supported by NGOs seem to be doing better in terms of their management and performance as compared to those formed and suppor ted by government agencies under various programmes in both the states. Overall, the varying performance of SHGs as financial intermediaries seems to be making a potential difference in their role to influence the livelihood conditions of the members especially by way of promoting income generating opportunities through increased access to savings and credit. The study recommends a co-ordinated efforts by key agencies so that SBLP spreads in a more balanced way. There is a need to target more proactively areas or districts where not only the level of financial inclusion may be low but the chances of emergence of SHPIs may be limited. Further, it is necessary that f inancial inst i tut ions come forward to invest in SHG formation and development and to enhance the quality and managerial abilities of the of the SHGs.
• SAIL Project : Recently IRMA completed a large-scale consulting assignment commissioned by SAIL, the largest producer of steel in India. The client organization was interested in understanding rural consumption of steel in order to enhance its market position in the rural market by exploring possibilities of setting up of retail outlets at block level, which would primarily cater to rural masses. SAIL’s interest in this study is the outcome of a meeting, held on 6th March 2006, convened by SAIL on National Steel Policy (NSP). The 2020 vision of National steel policy is to double the per capita consumption in rural areas from the current level of 2kg per annum. Since SAIL plans to expand its network across more than 200 districts and 1000 blocks, SAIL commissioned a market assessment study to IRMA to gauge rural steel consumption dynamics across selected districts across India, and develop a framework to identify the potential blocks in a given district for its retail expansion. A cross- functional four members’ team of faculty from areas of Marketing, Operation Research & Production Management was formed to accomplish the task. A trade census was undertaken in eight districts spread across the country to understand the steel trade and retail consumption dynamics. Well known statistical and optimization techniques were applied to analyze the data and a detailed marketing framework was developed to fulfill the client’s requirements. The project was coordinated by Prof. M V Durgaprasad and the project team consisted of Prof.Anand Venkatesh, Prof.Preeti Priya & Prof.Jayant Negi
• Potential Mapping for Cluster Managers- AKRSP (I): Prof. Madhavi Mehta recently conducted a mini assessment centre for the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme for mapping the potential of the employees for the position of cluster managers a middle management position in the organization. The project included designing/identification of tools and techniques for potential mapping, conducting the mapping and shar ing the results with the organization so as to help them in their HR related decisions such as of potential was carried out using techniques such as group discussion, psychometric testing, preparation and presentation of proposal as well as panel interview. Over 30 employees participated in this two day event and the outcome of the assessment centre was a map of potential of the participants with reference to the position cluster manager. As a result of the assessment, the vacant positions of cluster managers was offered to the top ranking participants and training needs of the other participants were also identified. A key feature of the project was involvement of internal team and now that the process has also been validated the organization is well equipped to carry out such assessment in future with the help of their internal team. As a part of the project, the coordinator from IRMA, Prof. Madhavi Mehta also supported the organization in the selection process for the Area Manager a senior level management position in the organization.

Biding Adieu!

Prof. Ashutosh Verma was a member of the facul ty in the Finance and Accounting Area. During his tenure at IRMA he taught cour ses such as Financial Accounting, Legal Environment, and Commodity Derivatives. He also co-coordinated MDPs on Finance and Accounting for Micro Finance Institutions; and Finance for non-finance Executives. He published a few papers during his stay at IRMA. Network wishes him well.

Prof. S. K. Mitra, a member of the faculty in the Finance and Accounting Area left the Institute after a tenure of 4 years. During his stay he handled courses such as Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management, Costing & Control Systems, Management Planning & Control Systems, Financial Accounting. He also co-coordinated MDPs on Finance and Accounting for Micro Finance Institutions and Finance for non-finance Executives. He has published a few papers during his tenure at IRMA. Network wishes him well.

PARTICIPANTS

PRM 28 and FPRM 6

For PRM-28, 104 candidates have joined, whereas for the 6th batch of Fellow Programme in Rural Management (FPRM) 5 candidates have joined. Twenty-nine girls and 75 boys constitute the PRM batch. The batch has 4 sponsored candidates. The batch consists of candidates from different disciplines like 31 per cent of the candidates belonged to Agriculture stream, 26 per cent to Engineering stream, 20 per cent to Science stream, 11 per cent to Arts stream, 5 per cent to Business Administration and Commerce stream, and 7 per cent to various other streams. More than two third of the batch has work experience spanning less than two years (36 participants) , 2-5 years (10 participants), 5-10 years (6 Participants) and more than 10 years (2 participants). Of the five FPRM candidates, one is an alumnus of the One Year Programme of IRMA.

The session commenced on June 04th with two week long orientation programme for both the PRM as well as FPRM students. The orientation programme included welcome address by the Director, meeting with the alumni, micro-lab for the participants to familiarize themselves with each other, overview of the PRM programme, interaction with the faculty members, screening of the films related to the cooperative movements and induction fieldwork to help participants get a closer view of the rural life. The term commenced from June 18, 2007.

Udaan

The student community of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) have planned to organize a two-day event on September 8th-9th, 2007. Called Udaan- 07. This event is intended to serve as a platform for integrated learning through the convergence of ideas of bright young minds, academicians and veterans of management and development to share and augment our understanding of rural India and echo voices of concern and commitment.

The event would include a Business Plan Conceptualisation contest, a Development Plan Conceptualisation contest, a Paper Presentation contest in Micro Finance, series of On-line Quizzes, lectures from eminent speakers and a cultural evening. Participants in these contests would include students from premier post graduate institutes in the country.

VISITORS

Dr Jorge Heine, the Chilean Ambassador to India, visited IRMA campus on 27th June, 2007 and delivered a lecture entitled, “Chile and Export-led Development: The Agricultural Dimension”. In his presentation, Ambassador Heine outlined the rapid economic progress that Chile had made as a result of its multi-faceted policies. Focusing on the ways in which Chile has harnessed its mineral and agricultural resources to create a sustainable economic model based on an aggressive export strategy, Ambassador Heine demonstrated that Chile is an extra-ordinary example of pragmatic and progressive development. Following the period of authoritarian rule under General Pinochet (1973-90), Chile’s policy makers pursued a blend of social development initiatives and strong exportoriented agricultural policies (specially in the area of fresh fruits) to emerge as one of the world’s leading exporters of agro-commodities. This not only reduced poverty dramatically, but also raised the per capita income to $9000 (approx.), while pushing the country’s exports to a record $65 billion.

Dr YK Alagh, Chairman IRMA welcomed the guest and Prof Vivek Bhandari, Director IRMA chaired the session. For the students and faculty of IRMA, Ambassador Heine’s presentation provided a wonderful set of ideas that would allow them to think creatively about the future challenges of rural management, and the exciting possibilities ahead.