The Incubation and Enterprise Support Centre (IESC) at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce Industry (DICCI) today for entrepreneurial culture development among the schedule castes and schedule tribes living in the North East.
Chairman of the IESC, Prof Sanjeeb Kakoty said, “The MoU between the two organisations will advance research, entrepreneurship and MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise) development projects through short-term programmes, faculty exchange and infrastructure sharing.”
Professor DP Goyal, Director of IIM Shillong, said, “One of the objectives of IIM Shillong is to train the people of North East to enhance their employability and entrepreneurial capabilities. Through this close monitoring and support network IIM Shillong and DICCI will help the youth transform their energy and ideas into a successful venture.”
Rooted in the idea of promoting social and business entrepreneurship in the North East, the collaboration will also lead to sharing of experts, faculty and business mentors between IIM Shillong and DICCI.
Founded in 2005 by Milind Kamble, DICCI aims to instil the spirit of entrepreneurship among scheduled caste and scheduled tribe youth so that they can compete with the rest of the world.
Expressing his enthusiasm on the collaboration, Ravi Kumar Narra, President of DICCI, said, “The talent existing among minorities is not limited to a particular sector. Our people are into aerospace, science and technology, and information technology among others. In the last 15 years, we have been able to connect with around one lakh SC/ST entrepreneurs and hope to do more in the future.”