SIFE to bring out leaders and entrepreneurs

MUMBAI, INDIA: Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), a newly formed non-profit organization in India is hoping to register about 500 universities & colleges across the country by 2012-13. In the process, the global NGO hopes to bring out many more outstanding leaders and entrepreneurs in line with India’s former president Abdul Kalam’s 2020 vision.

The global NGO is literally changing the world through highly dedicated students teams from more than 15,000 universities in more than 40 countries. Started in India in 2003, the organization has got the involvement of about 20 Indian corporates including Syntel Inc, Reliance Money, KPMG India, PWC India, HSBC India, Eastman Chemicals among others. In fact, SIFE in India is promoted by a global IT and KPO organization – Syntel.

Talking to CIOL, Keshav R. Murugesh, president & COO of Syntel Ltd said, “SIFE is a movement to develop the youth of India and the society at large. Over the last four years, the NGO has spread its wings across the south, west and north and now expanding across other regions. We are presently looking at quality of the projects the college groups bring out that will sustain over a long term rather than quantity.”

For example Welingkar College in Mumbai took part in an initiative at Nastik Central Jail, where in they trained the prisoners to create and develop handicrafts and then automated the retail process by introducing computers. “In the process the prisoners developed skills that will sustain them even after they leave the prison,” says Murugesh.

Likewise Syntel in association with Vidhya came out with a scheme where in the old computers were updated to newer faster systems and taken to Vidhya centers to impart IT education to slum dwellers in Powai (Mumbai). “They were taught the basics of computers thus open the minds of the slum dwellers to new avenues,” says Murugesh.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay, director & CEO of Reliance Money Limited (ADAG) says, “SIFE is a great initiative for students to focus on business projects to help the society. Reliance Money is proudly associated with SIFE as it has an objective to help the society and the people around them. In fact, it is different from other NGOs since it sustains projects for a long time to come.”

Over the last four years, the organization has about 40 colleges registered and implemented about 3-4 projects each thus the total has run into 150-200 projects on a sustainable basis so far.

Over the last few months, the 40 odd colleges in India took part at the regional level competition that has been short listed to 8 teams. The teams make their presentations at the finals at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai hotel on June 20, 2008. 

Due to the rapid growth of SIFE teams around the world, a new format for competition was introduced. Each SIFE country held a national competition, and each country’s national champion team advanced to the SIFE World Cup.  This year the International Competition is likely to be held in Singapore on October 1-3.

Alpha Arts and Science College emerged winner at SIFE India National Competition

Making a difference in the society at a tender age of 20 is definitely not an easy task. Tsunami waves completely ravaged Pannayarkuppam village of Tamilnadu and the government funds ceased and the fisherman community was badly affected. Alpha Arts and Science College representing SIFE India undertook the seaweed cultivation project and successfully made it an alternative occupation for the fisherman community.

The fishermen were in a need of an alternative occupation. As their expertise lay in sea related activities, these children of the sea were unable to adapt to any other occupation. The SIFE team ensured the profitability of the project and analyzed the global market statistics to establish it among the fisherman community. They identified buyers and suppliers of seaweed across India and made Pepsico a major buyer of this community.

Alpha Arts and Science College emerged as the winner of SIFE National Competition. More than 100 students from 35 colleges all across India participated in the SIFE National Competition. Four Regional competitions were held this year in Chennai on June 4, in Delhi on June 12 and in Mumbai on June 19. This year the Alpha Arts and Science College (The winner team will represent India at the World Cup at Singapore on Oct 1-3 2008.)

The runner-up team was JIS College from Kolkata. Jesus and Mary college from Delhi received Rookie award of the year. K.J. Somaiya from Mumbai was also appreciated a lot by the jury for their service to the society.

Some of the projects represented at SIFE National Competition are:

JIS College, Kolkata: Established a medical information system has been set up in the Sunderbans, West Bengal making information on hospitals, doctors available, just a call away.

Jesus and Mary College, Delhi: Migrant women from the Bhatti mines of Mehrauli, Delhi were rendered jobless after the earthquake in 1990. Jesus and Mary College students established a business model under which this women community were taught to make handmade products like bags and baskets. They identified the end buyers and suppliers, which could give them the raw material at subsidized rates. This project completely uplifted the status of this women community and the project is running successfully in the Mehrauli area of Delhi.

K.J. Somaiya from Mumbai: (Though not winner but was appreciate a lot)

K.J.Somaiya College students realized the problem of a large community of immigrant workers in Dhokali Gaon, Thane, who could hardly earn anything because of the lack of any professional skill.

Project Initiative: Imparting professional skills like embroidery and tailoring to women in order to help them attain economic stability. Providing tailoring kits and sewing machines (including industrial machines). Building a suitable business model for income generation. Improving the exposure and awareness of women, thereby increasing their self-confidence. Assisting the children of the family with their academics. Inviting industry experts/persons to oversee and evaluate the skills of the women of this community.

All these projects were judged by dignitaries like:

* Keshav R. Murugesh – Chairman, SIFE India, President & Chief Operating Officer, Syntel Inc.

* Rupendra Singh – Vice Chairman SIFE India, Non Executive Chairman KPMG India

* Malini Thadani – Director SIFE India, Head of Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, HSBC India

* Sudip Bandyopadhyay – Director SIFE India, Director & CEO, Reliance Capital Ltd

Chairman of SIFE India, Keshav Murugesh says, "SIFE offers these students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise, thereby improving the standard of living for millions in the process. We endeavor to teach important concepts to college students through educational outreach projects, including market economics, entrepreneurship, personal and financial success, and business ethics to better themselves, their communities and their countries."