Dhanbad, Aug. 8: Techies of Dhanbad’s premiere mining institution planning to explore unconventional fields such as rural micro finance and social development now have their task cut out.

A successful social sector player, Bihar Development Trust (BDT) has joined hands with the Indian School of Mines University for recruiting technology graduates.

It has signed an MoU with the varsity’s entrepreneurship cell, which has been formed to help young graduates venture out into unconventional sectors.

BDT itself is a story of two young alumni of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). Ravi Chandra and Dev Kumar Dubey, after completing their management studies, decided to work for their home state instead of joining a multinational offering them a heavy pay packet.

Since its formation in March 2007, BDT has developed more than 240 self-help groups (SHGs) in Bhagalpur and Patna districts of Bihar. Every month, the organisation extends loans of up to Rs 7 lakh. The core segments served by BDT include agriculture and women entrepreneurs.

So far, the organisation has extended loans to 400 women entrepreneurs associated with production of sattu, tassar, fruits, and mushroom, besides tourism develop- ment and rural electri- fication. It aims to be in Deoghar in Jharkhand by 2010.

BDT is also looking forward to collaborate with other B-schools and engineering colleges. “Our target is to reach 5,700 members by the end of this calendar year,” said Ravi Chandra, the fund-raiser and net- working man.