This program was started with the aim of getting our students to experience the hardships faced by low-income families in villages and cities, by interacting with the people directly. Though there are several policies and schemes in place to help such people – to grant employment or help them start a business – most of them don’t take off, or are poorly implemented. Many of the people from low-income groups are not even aware of their rights, the schemes and benefits that are available, and how to avail them. This program aims to make our students aware of all these issues, and to come up with ideas for business models that can be implemented for such people, giving them dignity and a means of being financially independent.
Our students were taken to existing business units and farms in rural areas to see how they function, so that they could get a first-hand understanding of what ailed these businesses, and how they could rectify the problems. This experience would encourage students to start entrepreneurial ventures in rural and impoverished urban areas so that they could give back to the society while making a good living themselves.
To sensitize management students regarding poverty and development issues in rural and urban areas through experiential learning.
Creation of opportunities for the students to connect “SELF” with the broader development issues in the society
Development Immersion Program (DIP) as Rural Immersion Program (RIP).
Thiagarajar School of Management focuses not only on educating the students on business and management strategies, but also motivates students to be socially responsible citizens. This is of particular importance in our society today, as we see more and more individualism and self-centeredness. Every TSM student is instilled with values of service, and encouraged to make meaningful contributions to society through numerous platforms. Ergo, the RDIP is given immense importance, and held almost at par with other courses in the curriculum.
RDIP was being offered to students for several years, but it was decided to lay greater emphasis on social entrepreneurship development. The course was renamed as the Rural Immersion Program after this slight shift in focus, adding greater value and meaning to the system.
The RDIP is a well-structured program where students work in teams to come up with successful business plans in rural settings. The program’s agenda is to groom the students’ entrepreneurial abilities and give them a glimpse of how business models are created. The program focuses on social entrepreneurship where students are taken to various rural business units.
