AAM Karkhana

In the Dayalbagh Educational Institute's (DEI) Education Policy, articulated in 1975, two of the foundational concepts are to build ideals of humility, simple living, selfless service and sacrifice and to develop respect for ‘soiled hands’, dignity of labour, and, self-reliance.

UGC's visiting team to DEI in 1977 observed that DEI is engaged in providing a good academic programme in agricultural-rural-industrial complex, oriented to specific conditions and needs and providing suitable social service, work experience, national integration and vocational training programmes aligning with academic curricula. They further observed, that DEI, with its courses, is able to give a greater emphasis on preparing students for self-reliance and self-employment and thus fulfill its objective more effectively.

Today's post is on one such initiative, an initiative in the remote tribal areas of Middle India, to enhance the skills of tribal youth, helping them start and establish nano-enterprises and making them self-reliant, an initiative called AAM Karkhana.

Read on,

Anurag

Automobile And Multi-Skill (AAM) Karkhana

The education system in Dayalbagh is over a hundred years old and two of its important features are: vocational education and training, and selfless service to the underprivileged. The educational system is underpinned by the philosophy of social responsibility by way of providing low-cost, high-quality education and training locally. Accordingly, DEI not only offers programs and courses in engineering and management but also offers modular programs to persons who are unable to continue with higher studies for any reason, academic, financial or domestic. DEI has taken need-based courses to remote locations of the country for tribal and unprivileged sections of society.

Disseminating Information: Roadshow by Yamaha Motors

Disseminating Information: Village Chaupal

The AAM (Automobile and Multi-skilling) Kharkhana was established at Rajaborari by DEI’s Centre of Rural Entrepreneurship (CORE) and Technical College with the help of India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd (IYMPL), Surajpur. The objectives of the AAM Kharkhana include:

1. Skill enhancement of local tribal youth in repair of automobiles, agro-farm equipment, electric appliances, iron fabrication/welding etc.
2. Establishment of a common resource center for young entrepreneurs for skilling and entrepreneurial experimentation.
3. Extending sustainable self-employment opportunities in remote tribal areas.

The AAM Karkhana at Rajaborari is fully equipped with essential equipment for automobile service and repair such as tools, air compressors, washing units, hydraulic two-wheeler ramps, spark plug cleaners and testers. The Karkhana is also equipped with a motor winding machine, welding machine, and drill machine, etc., for repair of electric appliances, and iron fabrication/welding jobs. AAM offers services to the local population in the above fields at competitive rates and provides opportunities to the tribal youth for training and self-employment. The trainee, after acquiring adequate skills, can even work at the Karkhana on payment of nominal charges towards rent for space and tools and equipment, electricity and water charges, etc. Experts from the Department of Automobile Engineering, DEI Technical College are regularly sent on deputation to Rajaborari to train the local youth. An expert welder from a nearby village, Temrubahar, in the Rajaborari estate akes on fabrication jobs and trains those interested in welding.

Motorcycle service and repair - early days, without AAM Karkhana shed

AAM Karkhana duly established

Motorcycle being serviced in the AAM Karkhana.

Motorcycle being serviced in the AAM Karkhana.

Motor winding jobs at the AAM Karkhana.

Welding jobs being attended to at the AAM Karkhana.

Earlier, the local residents of Rajaborari Estate (comprising 10 villages with a population of over 5000 people) had to go to Timarni (55 km away) to have their vehicles serviced or repaired. This is now possible locally at very reasonable rates, saving time, energy, and money.

The AAM Workshop also serves as a shared ‘Rural Resource Centre’ where anyone can come and use the equipment for his private or commercial use at a very nominal fee. Two companies, IYMPL and Mahindra were informed that the villagers come to the Karkhana in large numbers and asked if they would like to organize free service camps (FSC) in the Basant Mela, a local fair of importance, to be held between 7 – 10 February 2017. Both agreed and their stalls were a great success with 213 motorcycles, 4 tractors and 3 SUVs serviced in the camp; the villagers requested that such camps be organized regularly.

Free Service Camp by IYMPL

Motorcycle washing at Free Service Camp

Free Service Camp by Mahindra

Mahindra vehicle being attended at Free Service Camp

Beneficiary Testimonials:

• “I have undergone six-month two-wheeler automobile repair training at AAM Karkhana Rajaborari. The DEI Technical College has also arranged and sponsored twenty-day training for me at India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd, Surajpur (near Noida). I have now started my own flour mill cum automobile repair shop in my village which provides livelihood to my family.” - Mr. Ashok Uikey, Tribal Youth, Village Rajaborari, Dist. Harda (M.P.)

• “I belong to village Temrubahar (a Korku tribal village) in district Harda. I am using the welding equipment and infrastructure of AAM Karkhana, Rajaborari for my self-employment purposes. I was working in a factory at Bhopal as welder but now I have relocated back to my village and started my own welding services by using AAM Karkhana equipment (welding machine, cutter, power back-up etc.). I am simultaneously managing my agriculture operations as well. I have earned Rs. 50,000 in past six months from my welding jobs without making any investment in the costly equipment and power back-up in this rural area” - Mr. Sukhdev Bhusare, Korku Tribe, Village Temrubahar

• “I have completed my one-year certificate program in Motor Vehicle Mechanic (MVM) from DEI and am presently working at the AAM Karkhana since past two months. I will open up my own workshop in my village Mogradhana in times to come.” - Mr. Anand Raj Bhalavi, Korku Tribe, Village Mogradhana

• “My name is Gurdayal Yadav and I belong to village Mogradhana. My father is a farmer and we also have a small kirana shop in our house. I attend training at the AAM Karkhana in the forenoon and help my old father in managing the shop in the afternoon. I have plans to take loan after my training and expand my current shop to include automobile repairs as well.” - Mr. Gurudayal Yadav, Rural Youth, Village Mogradhana

Building Innovators and Creators: Tod-Mod-Jod

Gwynne Shotwell, the President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX, states, “You can't be on the cusp of innovation and at the forefront of technology if you're wearing blinders. If you don't have an exploration program where you're exploring your world here on Earth, underwater, and in space, then you're wearing blinders and handicapping yourself”.

Many of the programs at Dayalbagh and DEI are designed to get children to be early explorers. Our post today is on “Tod-Mod-Jod”, a program to build curiosity in children and help them become innovators, creators and inventors.

Happy Exploring,

Anurag

तोD-मोD-जोD

Education is the crucible in which innovations and creativity are nurtured. Promoting creativity and originality through our educational institutions is a first step towards broadening and deepening the impact of innovation in our society and economy. To foster creativity at an early stage and to encourage an innovative mindset in the learners, it is necessary to provide a hands-on learning environment where students can de-construct, re-construct or re-purpose everyday objects that they see or use.

Rationale

The innovative skilling initiative in Dayalbagh Educational Institutions is based on the concept of, “Tod-Mod-Jod” or “तोD-मोD-जोD”, i.e. learning through dismantling, joining, adding, assembling, shaping, designing, redesigning, reshaping. This method of learning is in contrast to the conventional training. तोD-मोD-जोD (TMJ) not only allows students to understand the scientific principles behind the everyday products they use, but also helps the students to expand their horizons to larger concepts and applications so as to enable them to solve real world problems. For instance, students typically do not know the inside of a ceiling fan, तोD-मोD-जोD (TMJ) session would help them to understand how mechanical airflow and electric concepts and components are used.

Description

Dayalbagh Educational Institute introduced तोD-मोD-जोD at middle school level for innovative and self-motivated students who want to create a new product out of those used in daily life. The teacher as mentor encourages students to follow their creative instincts. The feedback from students shows a complete change in their perception towards machines and devices. Curiosity and inquisitiveness are encouraged. These are critical for nurturing an innovative mindset. It is hoped that तोD-मोD-जोD centres will develop a way to excite and challenge young minds in a fun learning environment.

Impact

• तोD-मोD-जोD centre provides a hands-on learning environment where students can de-construct, re-construct or re-purpose everyday objects that they see or use.

• Helpful in establishing the concept of learning through “Tinkering”, “Discovery”, and Experimentation”.

• Early Start towards building a nation of creators not just consumers of products.

• Make education relevant, real and fun

Student Testimonials

• “Will always be curious on how what I use actually works”.

• “Connects multi-disciplinary concepts learnt in textbooks to real life applications”.

• “We want तोD-मोD-जोD classes every day”.

The Business Advisory Clinic of Dayalbagh Educational Institute

Sir Anand Sarup Sahab presented a “Memorandum on Dayalbagh” to the Unemployment Committee of “United Provinces”, when it held its sittings in Dayalbagh on 13th and 14th of March 1935. This “Memorandum on Dayalbagh” was subsequently printed in a Supplement to the Dayalbagh Herald on April 15, 1935.

This Memorandum with immense foresight states, “But, unfortunately, very few people in India really care for the development of Industries. The majority of the people are of the opinion that, India being primarily an agricultural country, the solution of its unemployment cum poverty problem lies in the improvement of its agriculture and dairy farms. But this is an absolutely wrong notion.”

REI Building in all its splendor

Dayalbagh’s (and Dayalbagh Educational Institute’s) focus is on helping its community members (and students) setup and efficiently, ethically and profitably run nano and micro enterprises and industrial units which provide local employment opportunities with low upfront capital requirements.

Today, we have Prof. Santi Swarup Kandikonda, writing about the 

“Business Advisory Clinic” of Dayalbagh Educational Institute

that we are all familiar with which provides guidance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) Entrepreneurs every morning in the Fields.

Prof.  Swarup is Professor in the Department of Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI) and Coordinator of the Business Advisory Clinic.

Warm Regards,
Anurag
----------------

Prof. Swarup writes…

On the recommendation of Advisory Committee on Education (ACE), Dayalbagh Educational Institutions, Business Advisory Clinic (BAC) was started in the Faculty of Social Sciences, DEI on 4^th September 2005. The Clinic is actively involved in the guidance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) since its inception. The Clinic has handled 10,160+ cases under the Guidance of Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi, Chairman, ACE, Dayalbagh Educational Institutions, both from India (mainly) and abroad.

BAC has a twin objective of advice to small business as well as developing case studies and share real life experiences with MBA students. It has developed 30 case studies which are discussed with the MBA students every year. Also, the students take up projects and study problems of Agra MSMEs using various techniques under guidance of the In-charge Business Advisory Clinic. The Clinic gives advice to clients every day.

Advising and Learning

Advice given to clients (MSMEs)

The clients approach the Business Advisory Clinic with their problems and advice is given to them. These problems are related to starting a business, expansion or diversification of an existing business, not being able to meet expenses in a business, continuously running in losses, evaluating new proposals, increasing sales etc. During the last 4.5 years, the Clinic has given advice in 3,771 business cases.

Client of BAC

Client of BAC

Cases developed for class discussion

The cases developed in the Business Advisory Clinic are discussed with the MBA students. Some of the cases developed are listed below:

1. Feasibility of a Tire Recycling Plant: A Case Study on Self reflection
2. Profitability at any cost: A Case Study on Business Ethics
3. Cut your coat according to your cloth: A Case Study on Strategy Development for small business using SWOT analysis.
4. Nextgen IT: A Case Study on Business Analysis at 3 levels
5. Is there a way out: A Case Study on Debt trap
6. Ace the Interview: A Case Study on critical success factors and counselling intervention for Interview Success
7. True Empowerment lies within: A Short Case Study on holistic life management
8. Go it alone: A Case Study on Decision making using small data
9. Projects appraised & under appraisal

Class Discussion of Cases

l

The clients who approach the Clinic with the idea of starting a new business are advised to prepare a Detailed Project Report and the vetting of the same is done and risk minimization is ensured.

Business Feedback

Regularly feedback is taken on the performance of the business. Also challenges faced by the new businesses. The feedback received by clients enables us to guide the newer cases better.

Client of BAC

Student visits to local Business

As a part of their projects, students are encouraged to visit the local business and identify the issues using SWOT analysis or Critical Success Factors, Porter’s Five Force Model etc.

Visiting Local Businesses

Visiting Local Businesses

Invited talks on Entrepreneurship

Development and Risk Mitigation Strategies for MSMEs	Ontario Centers of Excellence, Canada
Techniques for Counseling and Enhancing Risk Consciousness of MSMEs in India using case study approach	University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Techniques for Enhancing Risk Consciousness of MSMEs in India using Experiential approach	Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

Seminars and Conferences attended & papers presented

Conference Displays

Title of the paper	Name of the Conference/ Seminar	Organized by
Is entrepreneurship decision of university students a conscious choice? A study of an Indian University using Triangulation Approach	The Science of Consciousness (TSC 2016)	University of Arizona, US.
Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas in Finance: An Experiential Approach	Ethical Issues in Accounting, Finance and Taxation- 2016	Faculty of Commerce, DEI
Is Investment Decision of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) A Conscious Choice? A study of Indian MSMEs Using Multiple Case Study Approach	Toward A Science of Consciousness (TSC) 2015	University of Helsinki, Finland
Enhancing Risk Consciousness through Self reflection:  A case Study of an Indian Entrepreneur.	Toward A Science of Consciousness(TSC) 2014	Univ. of Arizona, USA
Transformative Learning through Self Reflection for Enhancing Individual and Group Job Interview Consciousness: A Case Study	Brain, Mind and Consciousness (BMC 2014)	Dept. of Psychology, DEI
Development of Consciousness Model for Analyzing Job to Business Decision: An Experiential Study	Toward A Science of Consciousness (2013)	DEI & Univ of Arizona