LAUNCH OF BEST BUSINESS IDEA CONTEST

26TH (Wednesday) April 2006, 5.00 P.M. – 6.00 P.M.
MULTIPURPOSE HALL, DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY (DAE) TOWNSHIP
PUDHUPATTINAM, KALAPAKKAM

Report on the Flag Off of the “Best Business Ideas Contest” in 6 tsunami affected villages of Kovalam, Semmencherry Kuppam, Uyalikuppam, Pudhupattinakuppam, Pudhu Nemmeli, and Panayurkuppam situated in coastal Kancheepuram:

BYST in partnership with the Standard Chartered Bank, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and with support from the office of the State Relief Commissioner & the Kancheepuram Collectorate formally launched the contest for the youth in the villages of Kovalam, Semmencherry Kuppam, Uyalikuppam, Pudhupattinakuppam, Pudhu Nemmeli, and Panayurkuppam.

The flag off program was attended by 450 participants hailing from 6 villages, committee members/mentors & resource persons from BYST, Officials from Government department and Non-Governmental Organizations. They were bussed by 8 buses into the venue from villages and BYST Chennai Office.

The dignitaries who participated in the flag off were:Mr. N. Krishnan, Chairman, Steering Committee, BYST & Managing Director, BGTS India Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. T. T. Ashok, Chairman, CSR Sub-Committee, CII & Managing Director, Taylor Rubber Pvt. Ltd; Ms. Susamma Varghese, National Project Coordinator, Bureau of Workers Activities, ILO; Mr. N Murali, Head, HR Risk Management, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Prashant Thakker, Head, Priority Sector & Micro Finance, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. R. Santhanam I.A.S.,Tamil Nadu State Relief, Commissioner; Mr. T. Victor Joseph, Chairman, Entrepreneur Selection Panel, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust; Mr.Kamlesh, Successful BYST entrepreneur and Mr.Krishnaswamy, Mentor, BYST & Managing Director, Mithraa Engineering.

Mr. Krishnan, Chairman, Steering Committee rendered the welcome address. In his speech, he gave a brief overview on BYST and the Best Business ideas Contest. Mr.N.Murali, Group Head, HR Risk Management, Standard chartered Bank, who spoke next, informed the gathering on the role of Standard Chartered with regard to rehabilitation of the Tsunami - affected in the villages of Semmencherry and Uyalikuppam. Mr.Kamlesh, BYST entrepreneur, described his experience as an entrepreneur and encouraged the villagers to think of entrepreneurship as an option. Mr.Krishnaswamy, Committee member, BYST and MD, Mithraa Engineering, described his experience as a mentor and informed the gathering on the satisfaction of being of help to the growth of an entrepreneur.

Mr.T.T.Ashok, Chairman, CSR Sub-Committee, CII & Managing Director, Taylor Rubber Pvt. Ltd highlighted the challenges in entrepreneurship and quoted examples of famous entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Narayanamurthy and Dhiru Bai Ambani. He cited instances on hardships faced by them and how they have overcome to reach greater heights. He motivated the villagers to participate in this contest and thereby orient themselves to entrepreneurship as an option.

Ms.Susamma Varghese, National Project Coordinator, Bureau of Workers Activities, ILO, who spoke next talked about the unemployment problem and espoused that entrepreneurship, could be the real key to address the problem. She informed the gathering on the Incense Stick unit run by ILO and said that Business ideas contest would help the villagers to come with good business ideas

Mr.Prashant Thakker, Head, Priority Sector & Micro Finance, Standard Chartered Bank described the plans of Standard Chartered for micro financing and the perspective of the bank with regard to micro-entrepreneurs.

Mr.Santhanam, Tamil Nadu State Relief Commissioner, in his address congratulated BYST for coming up with such an initiative. He said that there was no constraint for the villagers in terms of ideas or money; it is only the lack of guidance in the form of mentoring that is acting as a constraint. He said that the response to this contest would help in taking it forward to all the other villages affected by Tsunami

Mr.Santhanam distributed the contest forms, collection boxes and banners to a Village coordinator and other dignitaries also distributed it to the Village coordinators.

Mr. Victor Joseph rendered the formal vote of thanks, which was, followed with Hi Tea.

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