Ranchi, Feb. 25: Watch a film, get entertained. Well, if it is IIM-Ranchi, you get business ideas, a certificate from the B-school and market linkage from Nabard.
Looking to develop reel lessons to transform real-life strugglers into successful managers, IIM-Ranchi is embarking on a unique project — named Barefoot Managers, the premier B-school will develop 15 short films on entrepreneurial literacy and screen one a day in front of semi-literate and low-income groups in Jharkhand’s urban and rural areas to develop their business drive and skills.
People in the audience may grow and sell vegetables, make clay diyas, run small-time shops or petty businesses but lack the exposure or the attitude to make it big.
“It’s like switching on a bulb. Watching the films may trigger some idea. We’d like to ensure better entrepreneurial literacy and marketplace for individuals or groups to run their businesses efficiently, profit more and lead a better life,” IIM-Ranchi director M.J. Xavier told The Telegraph.
The concept is ready and a search is on for filmmakers. Earlier, the management cradle had invited expressions of interest from filmmakers, to which “reputable professionals” have responded.
So far, IIM-Ranchi is financing the project — the figure has been kept under wraps as the bidding process is on — but it wants the state government to also chip in.
“Four filmmakers, including Meghnath of Gadi Lohardaga Mail and Loha Garam Hai fame have responded. By next Monday, we will take a final decision on the agency which will prepare the short-duration films,” added Xavier.
Once the agency is finalised, the timeframe to complete the project is two months. The production house will be responsible for all pre and post production work such as scripting, shooting, editing, music, sub-titles, dubbing and commentary.
Interestingly, films will be shot in rural locales and be made in dialects such as Nagpuri, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili, Panch Pargania, Mundari, Santhali, among others, for ease of identification. This apart, IIM-Ranchi is in talks with Nabard, which gives micro-finance and loan facilities to rural folks.
“After the films get prepared, we will rope in government and non-government agencies, who will, at their end, gather self-employed village and urban youths to see the audio-visual content. The youths will get IIM-Ranchi certificates and get linked to Nabard for micro-finance,” said Xavier.
Things don’t stop here. IIM-Ranchi will also prepare animated films in Hindi and English, besides selected local dialects, to reach out to more people about business innovation.
Authorities are mulling options to form self-help groups of people from similar background or professions, such as traditional artisans, vegetable growers, potters and so on.
