The Hindu : New Delhi News : FMS sets up social service cell

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Thursday, Aug 02, 2007
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New Delhi

FMS sets up social service cell

Parul Sharma

Members to provide consultancy services

NEW DELHI: Future managers will now be sensitised about social ethos and welfare of society at large much before they step into their professional domain.

In an attempt to mobilise students’ managerial expertise, skills and aptitude, the Delhi University’s Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) has set up a social service cell “Vihaan” to contribute to society.

The cell will offer voluntary management consultancy services and professional advice to voluntary organisations and others involved in social work.

The four-member cell will coordinate with other FMS students to provide service for designing, planning, organising and implementing various social service initiatives and programmes.

Set up in March this year, the cell began working actively only in June. As a part of its maiden project with a non-government organisation, two FMS students visited nearly 15 villages around Shrinagar, about 20 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan.

Under the project that aims at assessing the credibility of new and existing Self Help Groups functioning in and around these villages, the students travelled across the villages for three weeks and devised a model for microfinance lending to the SHGs.

With the beginning of the new academic year now, “Vihaan” has begun work on two other projects. The first one called “Project Small Steps” is in coordination with Upasna Design Studio, Auroville, that creates designs for social development.

FMS students will spread awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags and encourage people to use other less harmful alternatives. A 12-member team has been formed that will function at three levels — schools and colleges, corporate houses and retailers.

“The underlying purpose of the project is to change the attitude of the people around us and make them conscious of their environment. Plastic waste is harming us in ways more than one and it is high time that we are aware of the risks and dangers posed by it. Apart from plastic disposal, it is imperative for people to stop using non-biodegradable plastic bags and look for alternatives,” said “Vihaan’s” president Ashish Agarwal.

The team will make presentations in schools and tie up with other social service cells or the National Service Scheme units as part of their awareness campaign.

In fact, FMS will start the Delhi chapter of “Project Small Steps” and raise volunteers from other institutions.

The second project will be undertaken with an NGO called “Parichay” which runs an SHG that sells spices and handicraft items.

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