Inauguration of IPM Social Internship Held

The inaugural event of the IPM Social Internship 2022-23 was conducted at IIM Indore on March 21, 2023, in the presence of Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore, and Prof. Shruti Tewari, Chair, IPM. The IPM programme provides various opportunities for its participants to develop social consciousness, and one of these is the 6-8 week social internship after their second year. During this internship, the participants collaborate with different government organizations, NGOs, CSR wings of companies, and research institutes to work extensively on societal issues.

The social internship for the IPM 2021 batch, which has 122 participants who opted for campus placements, will take place between April and May 2023. Through this internship, the participants will acquire the necessary exposure to become socially conscious and contribute positively to society.

During his inaugural address, Prof. Himanshu Rai shared five wicked problems that the nation is facing, including income and gender inequality, issues in urban and rural areas, lack of environmental conservation practices, and the absence of entrepreneurial spirit among the youth. He also shared various initiatives taken by the institute to address these issues. IIM Indore is contributing to the government’s One District One Product initiative by helping four districts in Uttar Pradesh and one in Madhya Pradesh to identify one local product and contribute to reducing income inequality. The institute has also contributed to improving traffic in Indore. Additionally, the establishment of the Centre of Excellence at the institute has provided a platform to address water, sanitation, and hygiene issues in the country. The institute will provide training to 4800 ULBs in the country and has received a grant of Rs. 19.95 crores from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The CoE will also mentor and guide the youth who wish to establish their startup in the field of sanitation and cleanliness, thereby enhancing the entrepreneurial spirit. Prof. Rai highlighted the Rural Engagement Programme, which provides students with a platform to live in villages, identify and understand problems, and offer solutions. “The difference between an average privileged male and an underprivileged woman in this nation is of 80 years. We are 1.4 billion Indians, and together we all can make a difference. It’s time to identify problems and look for solutions to make a difference to this nation and the world as a whole,” he said.