Aghaaz – Social Initiatives by Students

Aghaaz a Social Initiative

Aghaaz is a social initiative driven by management students from H.K.I.M.S.R., to work for social and economic upliftments and bring transformations in the society for benefit of common people. Incubated by Prof. Roy, the concept of Aghaaz has been developed taking into consideration the need for pedagogy, based on internationally accepted formats of shaping future business leaders with humane attitude.

Through the integrated curriculum of Corporate Social Responsibility and corrective interventions undertaken by Aghaaz, students get an opportunity to be sensitised and extend support in solving socio-economic issues pertaining to immediate environment that affects the commoners.

• It’s about Creating Humane Leaders….

  Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an important element of good corporate citizenship. And, as a component of Ethical Business Practice, has assumed huge significance in the corporate world today; so much so that every corporation is mandated to earmark a certain amount of their profit to CSR activities.

  It is imperative that management students, therefore, should address the inclusion of socio-business collaborative projects in the curriculum. At HKIMSR, CSR module is the first project that our students have to accomplish either working with a social organization or with CSr departments of business houses.

  As a progressive B-School, we have pioneered the concept of students completing CSR projects as an essential and compulsory component of their management curriculum. With the help of CSR initiatives, we are able to connect our students to the neglected side of the society that needs our support.

  Since the inception of Aghaaz, HKIMSR students have worked towards finding solution on various socio-economic concerns. Some of them are worth mentioning because of their commitment towards accomplishing social objectives.

  My CSR Project with Aditya Birla Group, working in remote villages gave me an opportunity to understand social and economic issues faced in rural areas. Today any management institute can provide similar range of infrastructure and knowledge, but HKIMSR goes all-out to make you Responsible Future Managers…..
  Umesh Shinde, Credit Manager, Percept OOH
  MMS | Class of 2011

  The aim of our initiative is to build an insight on what CSR means for the business world today and develop an appreciation for how society and business implications are inter-linked. We are therefore proud to say that at HKIMSR we are not only creating good managers, but making them socially responsible managers.
  Aftab Shaikh, Asst. Professor & CSR Co-ordinator, HKIMSR
  MMS | Class of 2010

• Aghaaz June 2012 – Problem caused by scarcity of coins in Mumbai

  The unavailability of coins in smaller denominations has affected the life of daily commuters, rickshaw drivers and BEST bus conductors leading to regular incidents of altercations among them which is unheard of in Mumbai. Recognizing & acknowledging nature of the problem faced by rickshaw-drivers & apparent absence of any obvious solution, students decided to take a proactive step & went on coin-collection spree. The coins were collected from roadside peddlers, hawkers, kirana stores, banks, etc. and exchanged for currency notes with several auto-rickshaw drivers in the area. The effort brought tremendous relief to all commuters in the near vicinity of Goregaon – Jogeshwari – Andheri within western suburbs.

  Recognizing and acknowledging the nature of problems faced by rickshaw-drivers & the apparent absence of any obvious solution, we students decided to take a proactive step & went on a coin-collection drive and distributed the same to several auto-rickshaw drivers in the area, which brought tremendous relief to them. It felt good to be involved and to have contributed to the initiative.
  Aditya Singh, PR Professional
  MMS | Class of 2013

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Aghaaz: January 2013 – Nirbhaya

  A signing campaign initiated towards creating mindset among youth to respect women – it’s our moral responsibility:

  The barbaric incidents of gang-rapes have shaken moral foundations of India and cast a pall of gloom over the entire nation. This has raised huge doubts about the ability of our judiciary system in providing a safe environment for women in the country. Post-Nirbhaya incident, it has become imperative for each one of us to work towards creating a mindset among people to respect women. In this context, students initiated support campaign to fight against this menace by undertaking a moral pledge.
  The PLEDGE: We will personally treat all women at home and elsewhere with respect and demand the same from others. We will not practice discrimination against women at home and in the workplace and will fight it wherever we see it. We will intervene in whatever way we can when we see a woman being harassed whether verbally or by deeds.

  The barbaric incidents of gang rapes have shaken moral foundations of India and cast a pall of gloom over entire nation. This has raised huge doubts about the ability of our judiciary system in providing a safe environment for women in the country. Post- Nirbhaya incident, it has become imperative for each one of us to work towards creating a mindset among people to respect women. In this context, it was indeed a thoughtful step by our college to initiate a support campaign to fight against this menace by undertaking a moral pledge. I feel truly fortunate to have been a part of this institution.
  Nayana Patel, HR Consultant
  MMS | Class of 2013

   

• Aghaaz October 2010 – Clean Mumbai, Green Mumbai…

  Clean Mumbai, Green Mumbai…
  Small efforts can make a big difference – and everyone can make a difference in own small way to the garbage issues in Mumbai. Armed with this philosophy, the students of HKIMSR, decided to do a bit by embarking upon a cleanliness drive thereby bringing about awareness towards making Mumbai a cleaner, healthier place.
  An initiative undertaken in association with Clean Mumbai Foundation, an NGO founded by Kunti Ojha has embarked on a journey to safe-keep Mother Nature for future generations. Mumbai is an aspiring global city and it is the duty of every Mumbaikar to help to keep the city clean and green. This sense of responsibility is inculcated among our students…..

  Small efforts can make a big difference – we all can make a difference in our own small way to the garbage issues in Mumbai. Armed with this philosophy, we the students of HKIMSR, decided to do our bit by embarking upon a cleanliness drive thereby bringing about awareness towards making Mumbai a cleaner, healthier place.Vineesh Pathak, Category Manager, flipkart.comMMS | Class of 2011

  

  

  

  

  

  
  

• Aghaaz January 2013 – Distribution of aids and equipments to Specially-abled people

  The economic challenges faced by specially-abled people, more often, deprive them from availing support facilities they need for their survival. Students at HKIMSR organised the camp during ethos 2013 for distributing aids and equipments for specially-abled people. The initiative was supported by Maharashtra State Handicapped Financial Development Corporation (MSHFDC) and leading NGOs in Mumbai. Honourable Suhas Kaleji, Managing Director, MSHFDC and Honourable Dinkar Tawdeji, General Secretary, NCP presided over the function and distributed the aids and equipments to the specially-abled people.

  We were just not distributing equipments, but a part of their body. I am indeed grateful to the MSHFDC for giving our institute an opportunity to contribute to and make a difference to the lives of many specially-abled people. On personal front, I feel blessed to have been involved in such a noble initiative.
  Pawan Desmukh, Indian Postal ServicesMMS | Class of 2012