An Initiative UnderSpecial Assistance Programme (UGC)

“Soil : An Initiative for Change”

Prof. H C Chaudhary, Former Dean & Head,

Coordinator, SAP(UGC) project on “Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship”,

Faculty of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University,

Varanasi- 221 005. email : hcchaudhary@fmsbhu.ac.in

“Rethinking What to Teach”

INNOVATION IN PEDAGOGY

Initiative to Engage & Learn With Social Sector

The Background /Challenges that lead to

SoIL( an initiative for change )

Program

Think what you fill when u see some one like this………….

• India has been heralded across the globe for its innovation in industrial, financial and technological arenas.

• Economic liberalization in 1991 led to a significant increase in competitiveness in the Indian economy and highlighted the importance of innovation.

• As a result, India is now the second fastest growing trillion-dollar economy and has reaped numerous associated benefits. However, this innovation-fuelled growth has been far from inclusive, with 42% of the population living below the international poverty line of US$ 1.25 per day.*

*(Planning Commission ,2011.India Human Development Report , accessed on 31/5/2013)

• Despite a number of social enterprises working towards alleviating poverty, various socio-economic issues continue to persist on a large scale.

• Some of these include low education levels, poor health outcomes and little or no access to basic inputs to improve livelihoods.

• Unfortunately, the scale of these problems is exponentially larger than the ability of social enterprises to grow their solutions - alone.

• A new phase of unleashing social innovation is required that spreads India’s growth phenomenon to those previously left out it.

• Mission-driven enterprises face the biggest challenges in scaling social impact*.

• While there are success stories like Akshaypatra, Pratham, SELCO, Goonj and FabIndia, others are small in comparison to the magnitude of the social problem they work to improve*.

(*As per Action for India (2012).Dasra Report. http://actionforindia.org/.Accessed on 31/7/2013)

Four common challenges of Social Innovators/Enterprises have been

identified by “Action for India” forum. These are :

1. Access to Blended Capital and Mentoring Support ,2. Lack of Big Data to Make Better Business Decisions ,3. Shortage of Skilled Human Resources in Social Sector,4. High Upfront Cost for communication for bringing behavior

change in society

Shortage of skilled human resources in social sector/social enterprises demands for “ Social Innovation Leadership Development/Training”

program to create more change-makers in the society.

Four common challenges of Social Innovators/Enterprises have been

identified by “Action for India” forum. These are :

1. Access to Blended Capital and Mentoring Support ,2. Lack of Big Data to Make Better Business Decisions ,3. Shortage of Skilled Human Resources in Social Sector,4. High Upfront Cost for communication for bringing behavior

change in society

Shortage of skilled human resources in social sector/social enterprises demands for “ Social Innovation Leadership Development/Training”

program to create more change-makers in the society.

Introduction to the Initiative

What is Social Innovation ? “A social innovation is a novel solution to a social

problem that is more effective, efficient, sustainable , or just than present solutions and for which the value created accrues primarily to society as a whole rather than private individuals*.”

“Social Innovation focuses attention on the ideas and solutions that create social value(s)”.

(* Center for Social Innovation, Stanford Business Graduate School.)

“The best brains in the world are solving the problems of the rich, who really don’t have any problem; we need to solve the problems of the poor “( Sam Pitroda .)

Education is the key driver for achieving a socio-economic transformation in the society and as such there is a crucial need to focus on this sector for reaping the demographic dividend in the global economy.

Existing systems of higher education must gear up to be able to develop the capacity of problem solving.

• Social Innovation is emerging world wide. Increasingly, selected institutions of higher learning in India , as well as in world ,are adopting an entrepreneurial approach to education.

• It supports students in becoming change leaders, social innovators/social entrepreneurs , and creative problem solvers

• Faculty of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University started “SoIL: “Social Innovation Leadership” program.

• The main focus of this program is to crate awareness among Management Graduates to work for the society at large and develop leadership qualities for creating social innovation(s).

“SoIL” program is an initiative to:– Enhance the value of Management Education in India, – Redefine the domain of Management Knowledge,– Create awareness among students to think for the

people at the “Bottom of Pyramid", and work for them, – Develop socially sensitive leaders and mangers for

creating social innovations. , and last but not the least,– Develop and create change-makers who can solve the

world’s most challenging problems.

How was the Initiative Executed ?

Activities under “SoIL” program primarily focus on:

Education and Training,Academic Research,Social Sensitization through Social Club “SEVAARTH”,Developing Sustainable, Marketable and Economically viable

Social Business Plan(s) through Social Business Plan Competition “UTTHAN”,

Conducting Seminar /Workshops, Inviting guest lectures from social fields , andNetworking with the other academic institutes and social

enterprises/ entrepreneurs.

EDUCATION & TRAINING• Add-on course on “Social Enterprise

Development”/“Social Entrepreneurship” for giving training in the area of “Social Innovation Leadership”.

• The focus of this course is to develop students for management of social enterprises as well as develop the competencies for becoming a successful social entrepreneur.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH• Currently research is being in progress in the

following areas :a. Social Innovations in India: The Role of Higher Education b. Social Entrepreneurship for Upliftment of Rural India.

• Future research areas proposed are :a. Marketing of Social Enterprises in India b. Human Recourse Management in Social Enterprises

SEVAARTH• Faculty has established a social club “SEVAARTH”. • Social voluntary movement started by the students of

the Faculty.• Plays an active role in bringing social sensitization.• Aims to

– Inspire student to apply their skills for the welfare of the marginalized sections of the society ,

– Create appropriate social changes.

“Social Business Plan Competition”“UTTHAN”

• Being organized by The Faculty every year for the students of B-Schools of India.

• Purpose of this competition is to promote entrepreneurship sprit among Management Graduates for developing sustainable marketable and economically viable social business plans.

Seminars/Workshops Organized In the past ,we have organized following

seminars/workshops: 1.Social Entrepreneurship in India , 2 .Social Entrepreneurship @ B-Schools, and 3. Social Business Lab @ B-Schools.

Future Seminar Proposed : The Role of Higher Education for the Development of Social

Innovation in India.

Guest Lectures

• Community Development experts, Social Entrepreneurs & Social Innovators are regularly invited in the Faculty for interactive session with the students for social awaking among the students.

Network Created

• A strong network has been established with the leading Academic Institutions & Organizations working in the field of Social Sector for guiding us for the various activities under “SoIL” program.

Challenges Faced While Executing the Initiative

• The biggest challenge in bringing this initiative was to ignite the desire to work for the society among the students .

• Another challenge was creating awareness amongst the students to apply their skills for the welfare of the marginalized sections of the society and to create appropriate social changes.

• Perhaps the biggest reason might be majority of students join Management Education program with an aim to get a good placement through campus to save their future career growth.

Solutions : Faculty adopted different activities to meet the challenges to execute the initiative by :

Providing Education and Training,Bringing Social Sensitization through Social Club “SEVAARTH”,Developing Sustainable, Marketable and Economically viable Social Business Plan through Social Business Plan Competition “UTTHAN”,Conducting seminar /Workshops on the themes related with Social Innovation/Entrepreneurship,Celebrating “Joy of Giving Week” every year in the month of October,Arranging guest lectures from social fields, Sending students in different events organized by other institutes/organizations ( Jagriti Yatra organized by Jagriti Foundation, L Unconvention workshops organized by VILLGRO Foundation,Chennai; SANKALP Forum at Mumbai,………)

RESULTS ACHIEVED(Social Impact Reached)

“I For Nation Foundation* ”• Founded by one of the students of the Faculty , is a

not-for-profit organization which strives to inculcate empowerment through enterprise in rural India.

• It is working towards the socio-economic empowerment of the people at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) by educating and building in them the capacity of venture establishment and sustainability by their own.

(*www.i4nation.org)

• Under ‘I FOR NATION FOUNDATION “, this is an initiative in Uttrakhand for awakening the entrepreneurial sprit amongst youth by providing exposure to them and to inculcate the zeal to move ahead with innovate ideas of their own.

• The focus of this initiative is also to help in checking migration from the remote areas through local employment generation.

• “YOUR STORY”(www.yourstory.com) has also highlighted the story of Yuva Prena Yatra in the month of June,2014 .

(*www.yuvaprernayatra.org)

“ Yuva Prerna Yatra*”

“Amogh Couriers*”• Amogh Couriers(established by an alumnus of our Faculty) is a

professional courier agency employing low-income especially abled adults in major cities of Uttar Pradesh.

• They offer on-time, customizable courier service solutions for clients in cities of Uttar Pradesh and few major cities of India.

• Through their express delivery business, Amogh Couriers generates employment opportunities for talented physically challenged men and women who otherwise struggle with financial dependency.

(* www.amoghcouriers.com)

“Women Development Advocacy Center *” • Established by a Nepalese Student (who passed our from our Faculty last

year ), this center in remote area of Nepal focuses on basic education, health, clothing and empowerment for Underprivileged, Indigenous and Dalit girl child and women .

• The founders of this center believe that educating girls and women is one of the fastest ways to alleviate poverty worldwide.

• “WASTE AS UTILITY” is an initiative of WDAC that has been working, with a bifocal approach, for the sustainable development of underprivileged women and girls and developing them into Change Ambassadors.

(* www.wdac.org.np)

“Dawailelo.com*”• Current students of our Faculty has started an

online medical store in Varanasi .• This on-line store has been established to help

those who are in need by providing home delivery of all kinds of medicines and health related products/services, within 24 hours with free home delivery on time.

(*www.dawailelo.com)

Recognition(s) ……..• The University Grants Commission(UGC) has recognized our Faculty as a

center for conducting a research- project on “ Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship” under Special Assistance Program(SAP) ,DRS Level II.

• ASHOKA U (www.ashokau.org)has identified our Faculty for a status of “Change Maker Campus". The process for this is under consideration. Once this status is granted to us, Asoka India , and its network of 350 social entrepreneurs , business partners and community leaders will offer us a unique opportunity to create “changemaking experience” within our campus.

• During Indian Management Conclave,2014 held at New Delhi on August, 8-9 ,2014), the Faculty has been conferred with “Silver Award” for its initiative “SoIL” under the theme“ Rethinking What to Teach :Innovation in Pedagogy”.

Future proposals………. “Center for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship” :

This proposed center will be committed to supporting a vibrant community of people actively engaged in building a more just and sustainable world. The overall emphasis of the proposed center will be to foster innovative solutions to social problems by enhancing the leadership , management and organized capacity of individuals and institution perusing social value creation.

Future proposals ……..• “Social Business Lab” ( as part of Center for Social

Innovation & Entrepreneurship):

The lab will act as consultancy and counseling center for Social Entrepreneurs & Social Enterprises.

The lab will foster creativity, innovation and social entrepreneurial spirit among participants to develop their own social business solutions.

Future proposals……• “Social Innovation Leadership Forum” The proposed forum will bring industry leaders,

thought leaders, social and business entrepreneurs, academics from Universities & B-Schools , investors, philanthropists, management students, representatives of government and media on a common platform to have intense dialogue to explore the possibility of building the ecosystem for social innovation & entrepreneurship in India.

Future proposals…..• “Developing a Model Course” A ‘Model Course –Curriculum’ for 2-Years program in

“Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship” will be developed with the help of Industry and other leading B- Schools of India.

What is in the name ? SOIL SOIL provides ecosystem services

critical for life : soil acts as a water filter and a growing medium; provides habitat for billions of organisms, contributing to biodiversity; and supplies most of the antibiotics to fight diseases*.

*(WWW.envirothon.org/pdf/cg/why_soil_is_important.pdf)

SoIL SoIL (“Social Innovation Leadership”

program ) has been designed to create ecosystem for the development of social innovators/social entrepreneurs to provide services to give solutions to social problems . They are critical to bring the change in the society and bring happiness on the faces of one and all.

Come , Be a Part of this initiative and help to create sustainable changes

that will impact the future of mankind and the future of our planet in a

positive way. Change is imminent and the rise of

social innovation is the future that we should all be a part of.

कि�सी� �� मु�स्�� रा�हटों� पे� ह� कि�सी�राकि�सी� �� दद� मिमुल सी�� तो� ल� उधा�राकि�सी� �� वा�सीतो� ह� तो�रा� दिदल मु� प्या�राजी��� इसी� �� ��मु ह!…………

A famous song from an old (1959) Hindi Movie “ANARI” (sung by late Mr. Mukesh) reminds us the relevance of the theme of our initiative.