Crossroads Outing with Enactus

Crossroads, SRCC’s annual festival, is sacred to SRites - and it should be too! Having been called the biggest fest in Delhi by any parameter, whether be it funds invested or the footfall witnessed, attending Crossroads is a must in the to-do list of every student.

Enactus SRCC saw in Crossroads an opportunity            

An opportunity to present a cause

An opportunity to display the skills of our communities

An opportunity to increase their incomes

An opportunity to inspire

And an opportunity to help people find their own cause

All of this, by means of a stall at Crossroads!

We sold puppetry merchandise procured from the puppeteers of Kathputli Colony, Shadipur under Project Kayakalp; and ‘Neki’ detergent, made by the women of Nekpur under Project Azmat. We also had a brainstorming session to come up with other things to do at the stall, and settled upon having a photo booth with puppet masks and muppets - and some games with fancy Superhero bookmarks as prizes!

Crossroads finally began amidst great hustle and bustle, and we set up our stall on the first day itself. Amazingly, we had an overwhelming response! The crowd loved the photo booth and the games! Seeing this, we decided to stock merchandise made by artisans of West Bengal as well. These were procured for us by Banglanatak, and were admired by all.

We also organized the second edition of Life On Wheels Escapades Adventure Programme (LEAP) in collaboration with The Travelers on the third day of the festival. An allied activity with the children (age group 6-12) of our rickshaw puller community, LEAP turned out to be a huge success too! The morning was full of fun where everyone enjoyed on the trampoline, and played games of volleyball and Tug of War. The energy was infectious and a great start for the day!

During the four days, we earned a fair income from the stall, got many supporters on ‘Gudville*’ and spread the spirit of social entrepreneurship amongst the people present there.

Four days of immense fun, we shared our Enactus experience with visitors, bonded further as a team and as a result, enjoyed Crossroads together!

* Gudville is a private social action network for discovering and sharing personal causes and inspiring friends to action. Please support us in our cause by clicking here.

- Mitali Gupta

BAB Interview: Mrs. Mohini Daljeet Singh

 In the following conversation with Mrs Mohini Daljeet Singh, CEO of Max India Foundation - the CSR initiative of Max India - we explore the changing scenario of Corporate Social Responsibility in our country. Our Business Advisory Board member since 2009, she has a lot to say about the social side of the healthcare industry. The passion she has for her work and the attachment to her cases is indeed very inspiring, something that is very evident in her talk.

Q: So ma’am, what can you tell us about the CSR initiatives of Max India?

Max India Foundation was formed in 2007 to undertake the philanthropic initiatives of Max in an organised way. I have been associated with it from the very start. It was officially launched on 15^th January 2008, which is celebrated as Max’s annual day. Being in the business of health care, we wanted our CSR to take that further. So now we utilise our infrastructure and technology for providing high-end tertiary health care to those who cannot afford it.

Q: Since you have been in this industry for so long, how have you seen the CSR scene in India change through the last decade?

As a nation, over the last decade, we have become more socially inclined. Philanthropy has been going on for quite some time in our country, but as compared to the West it is very little. But still, things are now changing. Businesses have realised that it makes sense to grow the environment in which they work, because ultimately it will help them grow. They are now reaching out to the people and gaining their confidence. They’ve realized that growth cannot be exclusive, it has to be inclusive.

Q: Apart from poverty and health, what other pressing issues do you think CSR initiatives need to look into?

There are issues such as women empowerment, skills training that need to be looked into, because with such a huge population, there are a lot of things we fall short of. And where does this gap exist? The education sector. Even when a school is there, the teachers are not. Dropout rates are so high. When I visited Chandigarh, near a Max Specialty Films production unit, I was appalled to see that there was no Math or English teacher for the students – with barely a few months left before the boards! I then arranged for extra classes after school hours, and that year, the pass percentage was 58% (as compared to 22% the year before). And this year, we’ve achieved a 100% pass percentage!”

Q: On this beautiful journey that you’ve had, what can you title as your defining moment?

I wouldn’t know how to tell one, there’ve been so many! One was when I came across this young guy from Manipur. He was only 29 years old, a father to two sons, and both his kidneys had failed. So he needed a kidney transplant desperately, which as you know, is a very expensive procedure. Through various channels, the case reached us. We paid completely for his surgery. And they were all so grateful! I still get texts from them, and they all keep in touch. When something like this happens, you realise that it is not just about one life, it is about how the whole family sees an array of hope.

Q: So how did your association with Enactus SRCC come about?

Mr. Analjit Singh was approached by Dr. Abhay and from there it all started. When I got associated with Enactus, Life On Wheels was just starting, so health camps were organized for the rickshaw pullers.

These student initiatives are very important. The sensitivity has to come at an early age. Even I used to work as a volunteer in college for educating women in backward areas. The nuns that we worked with taught them stitching, while we used to play with the children, teaching them a little bit about health and hygiene. That was the point I became aware of this cause, and I was converted for life.

Q: Ma’am, you’ve been associated with Enactus for quite some time now. How do you think we’ve changed?

I think that you have developed quite a lot. Now you are handling more projects, and have grown even more confident. I think that as an organization, you have a better sense of direction now, you know where you are heading.

Q: And what do you think is your favorite project?

Oh, I think that they all are important in their own ways. Every project counts! For example, I think in Project Azmat, you are making a great change.

Q:  Any suggestions or final words?

I would just like to say that keeping in touch with your communities and following up with them is very important. Health is an issue that every household in the country needs to be aware about. When you interact with your communities, you can put in a word about basic hygiene. Talk to them on a one-on-one basis, as a friend, and try to make them aware about things such as family planning or childcare. Because every bit counts. No effort is too small!

-Interviewed by Sanket Agarwal and Bhumika Gupta

Nostalgia and the Bliss: Tracing the Beginnings

Azmat and Kayakalp. Repossessing Respect and Pulling the Strings of Change. Two words that have come a long way to define our communities. Two phrases that take the center stage for describing our projects and our work. Together, they have travelled a way so long that they are now the very identity of Enactus SRCC. Both of the projects have grown tremendously in the last two years, since the time they were first taken up. In the following conversation, Nehal Garg and Priyanka Ravishankar, our Advisory Board Members, recount the initial phase of the projects and reminisce about the journey that these projects have undertaken:

Q: So what experiences can you share with us from the launch of the projects?

Priyanka: Before the launch, an important work that had to be done was to finalise the name of the project. For today's Project Azmat, some of the top contenders were Imdad, Imkan, Vedanta and Aapti. Now to think that we’d call Azmat anything besides that is really unthinkable. Even for Kayakalp, we did have quite a few deliberations about the name, didn’t we Nehal?

Nehal: Yes, as the SIFE tradition goes, we think, re-think and overthink everything to make sure it is perfect. (Chuckles) Kayakalp means transformation or rejuvenation. So the question was whether the name was compatible with our project objectives.

Original launch poster for Project Kayakalp

P: Right! Azmat was conceptualised when one of our super seniors, Mehak gave us an article about manual scavengers. And then in January, on that cold winter morning we went on a full team visit to Nekpur, the village that we began our project with. I remember that Nehal and I had travelled together that freezing morning, catching the first metro.

N: Yeah, the first metro, 5:45 AM (Laughs)

P: That was the first big team visit, when we had all the surveys and the field research done. And after that, I remember that we had this big team meeting in the front lawns when we were debating upon which product to be taken up in the model.

N: And not just this, we had one at India gate too where we kept on deliberating. We thought that it should’ve something to do with the cleaning, probably because it might do some sort of a poetic justice, given the profession the women were previously practicing. So we came down to Mr. Sunil Jain, who actually showed us how detergent-making works and we were convinced.

P: So yes, and now we have a detergent brand called Neki and you all should buy a packet of Neki!

N: We never leave a chance at brand promotion, do we?

We decided to have an official launch for both our projects. So we had a small ceremony with our Faculty adviser, Abhay sir, the SRCC Principal, Dr. P.C. Jain and the whole SIFE team. 

Original launch poster for Project Azmat

P: We had all the descriptions typed out on Facebook and were all set! We called Abhay sir to click on the button to ‘post’ it and the projects were finally launched that day. We felt so proud about it.

P: And today, the projects have grown quite a lot. We’ve had two Student Volunteer Programmes to break into the market in Azmat, and have had a large number of performances and productive collaborations for Kayakalp. 

N: It’s quite a legacy, which your seniors passed onto you, you to your juniors and the cycle keeps going on. And Enactus has become a family away from home. No matter where you go, which part of the world you are in, your heart always belongs to Enactus!

P: Absolutely, some of my best friends are in Enactus, and it’s actually a family! Whenever I finish a class, I always like to go to the co-op area in college so that I can ‘bump into some Enactus people’. My other friends used to call me up and say “I won’t ask you how is life, I’ll just ask you how’s SIFE, because that’s all you talk about!” (Laughs)

N: Haha same!  We both feel that the new teams have evolved this vision that we started with two years ago into something beautiful and will continue doing so.

P: We really are proud of you all and we hope and we know that you will take the projects to even greater heights and make many more lives much better, in terms of quality and quantity!

N: So, here’s to many more years of Repossessing Respect and Pulling the Strings of Change! All the best to everyone from the both of us!

-Compiled by Bhumika Gupta

The Chronicles of IITD: Enactus India's Training Session

‘There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.’ Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), the mere mention of the name acts as a  source of motivation for those who believe that change can only be envisioned by the eyes that wish to see it.

The concept of Enactus has helped inspire the likes of many budding students who decide to go ahead to take up social entrepreneurship as their career objective.

A mentorship session was organised by Enactus India at IIT Delhi on 18th January to elevate Enactus teams from across the country by making them understand the importance of imbibing the true qualities of a leader. Enactus SRCC was well represented by a strong 15 member contingent.

The event kicked off with a motivating speech by Ms. Preet Dhupar, who is the Chief Operating Officer of BBC India and also a respectable theatre personality. Her awe-inspiring words left an indelible mark on the minds of the students. She gave anecdotes from her life that made us realise how important it is to embrace the attributes of a leader with all humility.

Ms. Shuchi  Soin, Program Manager, Enactus India - North, talked to the students in the ice-breaking session. She also advised them  on how to prepare for the Enactus India Nationals to be held on the 25th and 26th of June. Students were informed about all the necessary documentation that they would be required to submit during the course of the entire competition.

Subsequently, we were divided into teams and made to solve a case study based on the reputable project presented by the University of Munich, the One Dollar Glass. This project won the Enactus World Cup  held in the previous year. It was interesting to view how teenagers can use the positive power of entrepreneurial action to bring about change.

This was followed by Mr. D.P. Jolly, HR Head, Coca-Cola talking about the myriad experiences and challenges he had encountered in his career so far. Students took part in the discussion actively. It helped them understand how a big giant like Coca-Cola manages to maintain and see growth in consumer loyalty through the years.

The event also provided an interface to various Enactus team to exchange ideas and insights. Enactus teams from across the country would look forward to facing healthy competition in the coming months.
- Anshika Gupta

Enactus Hues: Inside Out

If I were to hire college students to work in my company, I would definitely take up every single Enactus member. It isn't because I'm biased! It's because I've realized the following have come to symbolize people in Enactus:

1. An Enactus member does not know what a holiday is. Holidays are meant to unwind. If your work does that for you,why take a day off?

2. Every Enactus member has learnt to take harsh constructive criticism from the batch above,all in good spirit.

3. An Enactus member knows how to sit through long meetings and take notes throughout without any hitch.

Here’s an enumeration on the 10 best suited jobs for Enactus members.

1. Time Managers : No matter how hard you work, can you slog through 25 8? No, is the only acceptable answer. This is why time is a paramount resource and regarded likewise at Enactus, SRCC. This notion combined with productivity at all times makes them the best bet.

2. A Dilli darshanist : Khari baoli and chandni chowk for supplies, far away villages for putting up puppet shows in government schools, various markets to sell detergent, cultural events to promote Kayakalp and communities to do our field research work- an Enactus member has been to every corner, got off at every station on every metro line to complete Enactus work. We can now set up our very own Delhi tours and show you the real Delhi effectivey. Of course, we also know where to find the best food in each place!

3.A detergent maker: Since the inception of Project Azmat, we alongside the women of Nekpur have learnt the ropes of detergent making. Thus now, every Enactus member knows where to get the supplies from and exactly how to manufacture the perfect detergent!   We might just be competing with NEKI in the market soon!

4. Researcher: You can only be a true Enactus member if you've spent at least fifteen hours researching on the Internet in the past week! Surfing the net with a cup of coffee past midnight has long become a way of life for every Enactus member.

5. Puppet makers: As part of our Project Kayakalp, we've been conducting puppet making workshops with our puppeteers. We can now use bottles, socks and gloves to make every kind of puppet: gangsters with goatees, old women with bald patches, teenagers with streaks and rockstars with sunglasses!

6. Salesmen: Selling detergent to picky women and the idea of puppet shows to strict school principals, to selling the idea of microcredit to rickshaw pullers, we've all become adept at marketing our products. And well, sales have only caught up overtime. So you can be sure that Enactus members can sell real well!

7. Disciplinarians: Every senior batch has to deal with a fresh inexperienced batch of junior members. From yelling at us to follow deadlines to repeatedly telling us to shut up during meetings, from teaching us to reach on time to encouraging us when we actually start following the rules, the seniors have certainly breath more discipline into our lives than our high school teachers!

8. Memory cards: After every meeting, visit or Enactus event, one of the attending members is supposed to put up a precise yet concise account of exactly what happened there. So we're all now programmed to remember the exact sequence of events and conversations each time!

9. Socialites: We're all so used to meeting various people, be it corporates or be it rural communities, be it talking through just other Enactus members on a two hour car journey to Nekpur or phone calls to various prospective sponsors or journalists, that we've all now definitely developed our social skills. We can talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Page three might just star an Enactus member sometime soon!

10. Motivational Speakers – Connecting with human emotions comes from the very nature of the work we at Enactus engage in. Many a times our long day’s work ends up with us indulging in some candid conversations with our communities driving home some savoury memories and emboldened spirits

All this and much more distinguishes us from a perfect class of entrepreneurs and credits us with being Social Entrepreneurs instead.

So all the companies looking for interns or new employees, you know whom to hire now!

- Devika Mathur