Madhukar Shukla discusses plans at XLRI on Thursday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Sept. 16: For XLRI students, the joy of giving is akin to satisfying hungry mouths.

To plug gaping holes in the public distribution system in a drought-hit state, XLRI — as a part of its Joy of Giving Week beginning September 26 — will embark on annadaan (giving foodgrain) to the poor.

The B-school will form a network of not-for-profit organisations and business houses to collect foodgrain, store them and channelise them to their destinations.

But first, these partners will join hands to popularise the concept of donating foodgrain among individuals, schools and institutions. “Through annadaan, we are requesting everyone to give foodgrain in packets of one, two or five kilograms, following which we will co-ordinate with NGOs across the state to reach grain where needed,” said Madhukar Shukla, a senior faculty member of XLRI, who is co-ordinating the activities with students.

Organisers have also requested corporate houses like Tata Steel and Jusco to help with storage space, logistics and transport. “We will see if we can organise space for foodgrain in the schools we run. It is a pleasure to do something like this,” said Jusco corporate sustainability manager Shubhashis Chakravarty.

Making the joy of giving infectious will be its innovative school-to-school initiative, in which students of elite cradles will voluntarily part with toys, school bags, books, notebooks, footwear, umbrellas, stationery and utensils, which will be given to schools for the underprivileged. The week will also host career counselling for poor students and health camps.

The Joy of Giving Week will go the green route by launching a plastic-free campaign with schoolchildren and planting saplings in designated areas.

Ending on a musical note, on October 2, an inter-school band concert at Tata Auditorium will raise funds for Leh flood relief by way of ticket sales and sponsorships.