IIM-R elocution contest throws light on social issues

RANCHI: Footpath vendors and rickshaw pullers are often ill treated by society and not much is done to bring about positive changes in their condition. To highlight the issue, an inter-college elocution competition ‘An opinion for solution’ was conducted at IIM-Ranchi on Sunday.
‘Improvement in the condition of rickshaw pullers’ and ‘socio-economic condition of roadside vendors’ were the two topics discussed in the contest.About 32 students from 10 different colleges participated in the program. Ideas of Ajay Lakra, a student of St Xavier’s College were appreciated by the audience and judges. He said, “Committees has to be made for surveying and dealing with the problems of footpath vendors at block and district level. Seats should be reserved for the children of footpath vendors in higher educational institutes.”
Another impressive idea by Upasna Singh of National Institute of Banking Management (NIBM) was lauded by the judges and the students alike. She said, “Better implementation of government programs and extending education and health facilities can help the downtrodden section of society.”
The program was organized by Prayas, an NGO and NIBM. Member of Prayas, Sanjeev Mishra said, “The winning ideas will be passed on to the Jharkhand government and will be presented before the students of IIM as food for thought.”
Kamal Bose, professor at St Xavier’s College and Vinay Bharat, lecturer at Marwari College judged the program.
Bose said, “I am impressed with the mind blowing ideas of young minds. If any of these ideas are implemented, a lot of positive changes will be observed in the socio-economic condition of the poor.”
Director of IIM, Fr MJ Xavier inaugurated the program, and director of NIBM, MK Gupta and Rajesh Sharma, president of Usha Martin Academy graced the occasion as the chief guests.