A session of the two-day entreprenuership workshop conducted by NEN at MOP Vaishnav. | P Ravikumar
An entrepreneurship revolution is slowly being nurtured in classrooms with new start-ups mushrooming on college campuses around the city.
Currently, there are 62 startups in colleges, which are being nurtured by the institutes along with the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), said Vishnu Priya, senior manager (consulting) of NEN in Chennai.
NEN aims at penetrating classrooms to nurture young entrepreneurs. They have been successful to an extent with the help of entreprenuership cells in the colleges. These cells help kick start the entrepreneurship spirit among college students with the help of faculties.
Interestingly, some colleges like MOP Vaishnav College have been in the forefront in nurturing young entreprenuers, said Rosy Frenando, a former head of the Department of Commerce in the college and now an NEN consultant.
She said MOP Vaishnav College pioneered the programme on entreprenuership on campus.
“The focus was to educate faculty in colleges so that they can speak about entrepreneurship education. We trained the faculty, who in turn, identified student-entrepreneur leaders in a bid to ignite the thought of entrepreneurship among students,” said Rosy during a entrepreneurship workshop on the campus.
Interestingly, MOP has a series of start-ups, which include floral bouquets, MOP Health and Beauty (beauty parlour) and MOP Beyond Breads (Cafeteria). “All these happened through incubation,” said Rosy.
Interestingly, the initiative is no cakewalk for NEN as there are numerous challenges faced by the proponents of entrepreneurship in institutes. Sometimes, it is the parents who want their children to focus more on studies rather than on trying to be an entrepreneur and at times it is the institute which is afraid that the students would fare poorly in the exams.
But then, NEN along with the Tatas, have been successful in kindling the entrepreneurship spirit among youngsters. “Across the nation, we have nearly 461 start-ups,” said Priya.
To a query on the lifespan of these start-ups, Priya said that it is hard to come up with a figure.
“On an average, some have a lifespan of two to three years and some have mushroomed into big firms providing employment to many people,” she says.
“The question is not how many are successful. The aim is to nurture the youngsters in entrepreneurship besides equipping them to face the challenges in the real life,” Priya added.
And, it is not only in MOP Vaishnav, but also in other colleges such as KCG College of Technology, Ethiraj College, Women’s Christian College and Shahsul Jain College, that start-ups are mushrooming, Rosy added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities>Chennai / by C Shivakumar – Chennai / May 15th, 2013
One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come-up,” sings Macklemore in Thrift Shop, which once topped the Billboard Hot 100. In this chartbusting song, the American rapper talks about the high he gets from buying second-hand, a caboodle of products with just 20 dollars. Well, only a true-blue shopaholic can understand the elation that comes from such a trip to the market.
And now, if the song was going to be re-created within a Chennai context, Macklemore would have an array of second-hand shopping markets to draw inspiration from.
To name just as few, Lily Pond Complex with its second-hand books, antique items, old gramophone players and the works; Bells Road and Pillayar Koil Street (Jafferkhanpet), both of which are lined with used motorcycle shops; a section of Third Avenue on Indira Nagar, where old furniture is a big draw; Pycroft’s Road with its pavement book shops; the Friday shandy at Pallavaram, where you can get anything from cassettes to car accessories; and the New Park Road, where film and television production houses flock to procure used items for their sets.
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Members of production houses are among regular visitors to a line of shops on New Park Road – near Central Railway station – which sells discarded electronic goods, ranging from expensive-looking television sets to desktops and typewriters. They can be seen rummaging through these items, mostly piled up under makeshift tents, to find something that can be used in their sets. These items are used for a diversity of scenes, ranging from the depiction of a bomb blast site to a quietly functioning office. Not just film makers, a cross-section of people are apparently interested in these items for the same reason.
“An architect once bought five typewriters from our shop to decorate her client’s space, whose theme was old-school,” says Sathish, who main business involves sale of functional DVD players, each costing Rs. 400 (open to bargain).Goods that are in great condition have enthusiastic buyers. Where do the traders get such goods from? Sathish, who claims to have a fully-functional home theatre that is available for Rs 10,000, says, “People who go abroad and want to quickly get rid of these items contact us.”
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Even the nearby Lily Pond Complex has shops that feed the media industry with used items. One such example is Shop no. 79 at the Complex, which stocks a collection of used alcohol bottles, another of Marapacchi dolls and one more consisting of unique cameras.
“Most of these items are used in movie sets and only collectors show interest in fiddling through the junk,” says N. Shankar, owner of the shop.
A second hand electronic shop near Moor Market. / Photo: Romani Agarwal / The Hindu
Anyone in the city who values reading has more likely than not checked out the Lily Pond Complex, near the Central Railway station. A warren of shops in this facility – built to rehabilitate traders of the Moore Market which was gutted in a fire in 1985 – sell second-hand books, ranging from Grisham thrillers to Marx’ treatises and C++ programming manuals. Hundreds of students and book lovers visit the complex to either buy and sell books or do both. Palini B. of Renuka Book Stores, says, “In the beginning of the academic year, business peaks. School and college students come here to buy and sell their course and reference books. We buy the books at 40 percent of the market price and while selling it, we sell it at 60 percent – however, a lot depends on the condition of the books.”
Book lovers also flock enthusiastically to Pycrofts Road in Triplicane, where a row of pavement shops sell used fiction and non-fiction books as well as magazines in Hindi, English and Tamil. Among smaller but popular used book markets are the one near Loyola College and another in Mylapore.
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From iconic Royal Enfield models to classic scooters and regular bikes, Pillaiyar Koil Street in Jaffarkhanpet and Bells Road in Chepauk have much to offer anyone looking for a motorcycle on the cheap.
“We deal with two-wheelers of all brands and models,” says V. Palani , owner of G.R.M Auto Consultant. He explains, “Auto showrooms these days have exchange offers where they buy used bikes. We have our agents stationed there, who buy them directly from the sellers. Apart from this, people themselves come to us to sell their bikes. Our customers include businessmen, mostly restaurant owners who place bulk orders for two-wheelers that could be pressed into home delivery.” Most shops have in-house mechanics who test the bikes before the deal is struck.
Dawood Khan Lodhi of Paradise Motor, who is also the secretary of Bells Road Two & Four Wheeler Auto Consultant Owner’s Association, says, “My father, Azad Khan Lodhi, was one of the first people to introduce this concept in the city. While buying or selling a motorcycle, we are very particular about the documents. We scrutinise the papers carefully and look at the engine number and chasis number. If any irregularities come to light, we drop the deal. We also cross-check with the sellers to make doubly sure we are not dealing with stolen bikes.”
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A second hand furniture shop at Royappetah High Road. /. Photo: Romani Agarwal / The Hindu
Mani’s& Co. at Royapettah High Road, opposite Pilot Theatre, has carried the same look through for decades – mounds of furniture crammed into rooms and some more lying scattered out in the open. Anyone digging into these piles of wood and steel is sure to be rewarded with furniture that bear the mark of great artistry and good taste.
Mani’s started its business in 1970 as an auctioning shop. Now it is only into retail, with 15 dealers supplying it furniture. It stocks both old and new furniture and is famous for its large collection of teak and rose wood furniture, some of them imbued with antique value. “But, it is becoming more difficult to get antique furniture from homes. Most of the ones we get today are mere replicas,” says N.Muthukumar, who owns the place. The shop is closed on Tuesdays.
In Indira Nagar (Adyar), Shri Sangkara Enterprises also buys and sells old furniture. S. Anandavasan procures furniturefrom families that have left the country. Book shelves and single cupboards are a few of the most sought-after goods at this store. Karpooram boxes with a number of secret chambers, sourced from Karaikudi, are another attraction. The boxes double as centre tables. If you want any specific furniture, the shop will deliver it a few weeks after the placement of an order.
A second hand shop for bikes at Ashok Nagar. / Photo: Romani Agarwal / The Hindu
(With inputs from Liffy Thomas)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Vipasha Sinha / Chennai – May 18th, 2013
Training would be extended in agri-enterprises for three months at an integrated training centre run by the Co-operative Department for candidates from Ariyalur district.
According to a release from M. Ravikumar, Collector, of the total cultivated area of 1,06,409 hectares in the district, 67,158 hectares is rainfed and 39,254 hectares is irrigated.
While paddy is raised in 26,000 hectares, maize is raised in 16,000 hectares, pulses in 3,400 hectares, groundnut in 11,000 hectares, gingelly in 2,000 hectares, cotton in 8,000 hectares, cashew in 27,500 hectares, and sugarcane in 8,000 hectares. Besides, crops like chillies, tapioca, tamarind, mango, brinjal and banana are also grown in a considerable area. “Hence, Ariyalur district is quite conducive for starting agri-allied industries. By establishing units for value addition of agri-products, processing, grading and preparation of by-products, there is potential for generating considerable employment and also augmenting agricultural income.” Those who have studied agri-related courses in Plus Two, graduates and postgraduates in agriculture, diploma-holders in agriuculture and those who have secured either a diploma or a degree in any of the agri-related sectors like Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Horticulture, Forestry, and Dairy would get training. Those interested may contact Director, Natesan Institute of Co-operative Management and Training Centre, 2377-A, Anna Nagar, Chennai — 600040 (ph: 044-26210423). Log on to www.nicmchennai.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / Ariyalur – May 14th, 2013
The shop was started in 1927 and nearly nine decades later, nothing has changed, including the taste of the rosemilk. (Above) Owner K Mani | R Satish babu
The narrow bylanes of Mylapore can be a hard place to be. Vehicles try to run over you at every given opportunity, little children run about underfoot and cows wander aimlessly in the middle of the street. Combine this chaos with the mid-afternoon heat and you’re toast.
That is, unless you carry your trusty water bottle with you wherever you go. Or forgetting that, walk a few paces past the Kapaleeshwarar Temple and delight in the flavours of a simple, pink concoction given to you freshly chilled with ice on top at the Kalathy Paper Mart. At `12 per glass, the chilled rosemilk packs a punch. And if you have been wandering Mylapore thirsty, a glass (or three) hits the spot just right.
The Kalathy Shop has been selling rosemilk for close to nine decades now and the formula hasn’t changed a bit, say long-time regulars at the shop. It is the same frothy drink, prepared with the same secret rose essence recipe made by the family, served in an eight ounce glass. Only the price has changed. “I’m 62 years old now and the shop has always sold rosemilk, as far as I can remember,” says K Mani who runs the shop now.
“We used to sell it for 25p during the 30s and 40s for a 10-ounce glass of rosemilk,” he says. Though known for its trademark drink, the shop also sold everything from betel nuts to cigarettes and match boxes. “It started out as a bunk shop but it slowly expanded into selling newspapers, magazines and periodicals also. We used to do distribution as well, but now we do only counter sales,” says Mani.
Today, the shop also sells soft drinks, butter biscuits, emergency stationery items along with the newspapers and the occasional panneer soda. But the biggest draw is the rosemilk. “I sell about 200 to 300 glasses per day. During summer, it just doubles,” says Mani, a retired bank employee.
The shop also sells its homemade rosemilk essence in bottles, along with the pista, almond and chocolate essence. “We wanted to go commercial with the rose essence and got a licence as well. But sadly, it didn’t take off. We couldn’t compete with the actual commercial sellers,” says Mani with a hint of regret in his tone. “My siblings are all well-settled, so are my kids. We never had the time or the manpower to expand the shop. At this point, I want it to stay like this,” he adds.
The fact that the shop is still in its decades old self seems to add to its USP. For residents and passersby who have frequented this shop for decades, the legend of The Kalathy Paper Mart and the refreshing drink is a tradition unto itself. The place used to be a regular hang out for former schoolmates Kumar Lawrence (54) and Venkatachalapathy (55) when they were young. It still is. “I used to live around here when I was young and we always used to come here on weekends and ‘hang out’ while downing several glasses of rosemilk,” reminisces Kumar. “Now whenever we pass by this place, we have a drink or two for old times’ sake,” he says.
Others like Koushik (24) who once lived here and then moved away, the sweet taste of rosemilk still lingers. “I live in Coimbatore, so whenever I come to Chennai, I make sure to drink a glass or two. It reminds me of my childhood,” he fondly adds. (The shop is at #27, East Mada Street, Mylapore)
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Janane Venkatraman / ENS – Chennai /May 09th, 2013
Every morning, state government employee Aruna Devi dreads changing buses at Adyar depot to get to Chepauk, where her office, Ezhilagam, is located. Being visually challenged, Aruna prefers putting her life on the line and waiting on the road rather than getting on to an uneven pavement and risking a fall.
Adyar depot on LB Road is the main transfer point for thousands of residents of East Coast Road and Thiruvanmiyur like Aruna, who have to reach various parts of the city. People, share autos, autos and buses share space in the congested depot. The pavements are uneven, narrow and have a number of obstacles and breaks.
“When the bus does turn up, we have to rush to get in,” says Devi, treasurer of the State Forum for Rights of Women with Disability. “I can’t risk tripping on the broken pavement or bumping into an electricity box. I prefer waiting on the road,” she says.
Taking into account complaints from the disabled and other residents, the corporation has started laying disabled-friendly pavements. “The new pavements are designed by architects taking into account different needs of commuters and the road’s length and width,” said mayor Saidai Duraisamy . “Disabled people can get on and off the pavements using slopes. They will be 1.8m to 4m wide to allow a wheelchair,” he said.
The pavements, built of granite, will not have barriers. “I have asked them to move all barriers like streetlights, transformers and junction boxes to a lane parallel to the foot path,” said Duraisamy.
The pavements, which have been designed for 71 bus route roads, will be even and of uniform width. “They will extend evenly from the beginning to the end of the road,” said a corporation official. “They will not be more than six inches high, making it easy for old people to get on and off,” said the official.
For a city with 448 bus route roads, which run for 353km, and more than 8,000km of interior roads, pavement lengths are dismal. “A bus route road needs to have uninterrupted footpaths on both sides,” says Raj Cherubal of Chennai City Connect. Bus route roads such as Nungambakkam High Road have tea shops on pavements. MG Road in Besant Nagar does not have a pavement on one side.
In response to an Right to Information Act application filed by nonprofit organization Transparent Chennai last year, the corporation said only 829km of the 2,149km of roads in the city have pavements. This was based on the data collected from the erstwhile 10 zones.
The corporation laid new pavements with anti-skid tiles on Santhome High Road, Kamaraj Avenue, C P Ramaswamy Road, Wallajah Road and TTK Road. However, they are too narrow for two people to walk side by side and have been dug up often for civic work.
Experts say cities like Singapore and London have pavements on either side of interior roads. Every inch of road space however narrow needs to have space for people to walk.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Pratiksha Ramkumar, TNN / May 03rd, 2013
Forum Vijaya Mall, Chennai / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
The Prestige Group, along with Vijaya Productions, has launched Forum Vijaya Mall in Vadapalani with over 100 shops on four levels. There are over 20 food and beverage outlets, a food court that can seat 850 people, a nine-screen multiplex that will open up soon and much more. The Mall has an Indian touch, with many of its restaurants and retail outlets being Indian brands such as RmKV, Poppat Jamal and more.
Prestige has also launched Prestige Polygon, a commercial office space on Anna Salai, with 5,34,499 sq. ft of built-up area. It has an expansive frontage and can be accessed via Rathna Nagar Main Road.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Habitat / May 03rd, 2013
The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Adyar, founded on April 24, 1948 and the world’s largest leather research institute, celebrated its 66th foundation day here on Thursday. The foundation day events were marked by the participation of industry, universities and R&D institutions. “The Institute has over the years grown in stature and played a pivotal role in the cause of the leather sector on a global platform. The recent success in executing consultancy projects for the benefit of the Ethiopian leather sector is an example in this regard,” said A B Mandal, director, CSIR-CLRI.
“It has been a year of accomplishments for the Institute, especially in reaching industrial beneficiaries with appropriate technological intervention,” he pointed out. “There has not only been an extension of outreach on the international platform but has also been further reinforced, thereby sharing technical capabilities as well as expertise with the global leather sector.”
Delivering the CLRI foundation day lecture on ‘Innovation: An important tool in science’, D Balasubramanian, former director of CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and current director of research of L V Prasad Eye Institute, both in Hyderabad, stressed the need for technological innovation in every sector to usher in development and progress.
In a conscious effort to motivate researchers to protect intellectual properties, the Institute honoured staff members whose patent applications had been filed during 2012-13 with a ‘Certificate of Appreciation.’
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / April 27th, 2013
About 74 students from the first batch (2011-13) of IIM-Tiruchippalli (IIM-T) have been placed with companies such as Cognizant, KPMG and BPCL, among others, at annual salaries ranging from Rs 11.5-18.25 lakh.
These successful placements for the 2011-13 batch were notwithstanding the difficult economic environment, an IIM-T release said, adding that this was the largest first batch among new IIMs in India to have registered for final placements.
Prominent recruiters like Cognizant Business Consulting, KPMG, Perfint Healthcare, BPCL, Indian Bank and Berger Paints have each recruited four or more students.
It was a good mix of profiles to choose from, both in terms of broad domains and specific roles like corporate banking, product liability management, international sales, general management, operations consulting and supply chain planning, the release added.
Six students opted out of the placement to pursue specific interests in niche sectors/roles such as dental healthcare management and product management.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News / by PTI / Tiruchi, April 30th, 2013
Innovative: Ramanathan in his sugarcane nursery. / Photo: L. Balachandar / The Hindu
Sugarcane nursery boasts low overheads and high yield
P. Ramanathan, a 42-year-old farmer, sits beside a heap of seed sugarcane in his coconut grove, chipping buds from the cane stalks.
The farmer from Akramesi, a remote village near Pandiyur in Nainarkoil block, is all smiles. He is the first farmer in the district to raise a single bud chip sugarcane nursery, a cost-effective alternative to conventional cultivation.
Optimistic
It has been just two months since he started raising the nursery with the help of Sakthi Sugars, a private sugar mill, but Mr. Ramanathan is optimistic. The single bud sugarcane growing system is gaining popularity among the farmers as a low-cost option.
In the conventional system of sugarcane cultivation, four tonnes of seed cane are cut into pieces with two to three buds and the stalks planted in the furrows. This has posed problems for the farmers in transporting, handling and storing of the seed sugarcane.
In the process, the seed sugarcane undergoes rapid deterioration, reducing the viability of the buds and sprouts. To overcome the snags, reduce the overheads and increase the yield, the Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI), inspired by the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), had been developed and is fast catching on in Dharmapuri and Erode districts, B. Ilangovan, Deputy Director, Horticulture said.
Shade net house
Mr. Ramanathan is raising the nursery in a shade net house, with a capacity to grow three tonnes of seed sugarcane, and with two hand lever machines for chipping buds provided free of cost by Sakthi Sugars.
“From one tonne of seed sugarcane, we can chip 80,000 buds, which means we can raise as many seedlings in the nursery,” the farmer points out. If he bought one tonne of seed sugarcane for Rs.2,400, he would spend another Rs.2,000 to chip the buds, soak them in a solution of calcium chloride, urea and a fungicide before placing them in trays for sprouting.
Still, he makes a profit of nearly Rs.4,000 per tonne, selling the seedlings each at Rs.1.30 and reselling the budless sugarcane for crushing. After soaking for 10 minutes, the buds are covered in a wet gunny bag and kept indoors for five days before they are placed in sprouting trays filled with manure and stored in the shade net house for the next 15 days.
After sprouting, the seedlings are exposed to sunlight for another 10 days before being removed for planting, he said. He started raising the nursery two months ago, and has already sold 30,000 seedlings. Currently, he has an order for supplying 1.5 lakh seedlings. In 40 days, he expects to chip buds from seven tonnes of sugarcane and raise 5.6 lakh seedlings. This could increase manifold, if he uses an electric powered machine.
Gets a boost
Mr. Ramanathan got a boost recently when Collector K. Nanthakumar, along with a retinue of officials, visited his nursery and was all praise for his venture. Under the system, 100 per cent germination is assured, Mr. Ilangovan assures sugarcane farmers. He said the incidence of pest attack and disease was also reduced significantly.
The National Agriculture Mission helps farmers set up shade net houses and provides a subsidy of Rs.600 per square metre. For wooden shade net houses, the subsidy is Rs.410 per square metre. Nurseries for tomato and chilli could also be raised in shade net houses. At the moment, there are few takers among the local farming community. But with Mr. Ramanathan blazing a new trail, hopefully innovative methods of farming will be the wave of the future.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by D.J> Walter Scott / Ramanathapuram – April 30th, 2013
Sujata Pai isn’t just a sari designer. She revamps them as well. Ask her why she finds it terribly exciting and she says it is like giving new life to an old treasure — especially for women who have plenty of unused saris in their cupboards. Brimming with innovative ideas, her aim is to make bridal saris which are wearable for all occasions. “It all started because of my wardrobe. I hardly took quite a few saris off the shelves. But after adding personal touches to make the sari look unique, I’ve loved wearing them,” she smiles.
With varied hues, Sujata’s label, ‘Ambi’ reflects her simple style with a range of fabrics like Chanderi, Benaras silk, georgettes, chiffons, organzas, tussar and Maheshwari. Woven withwith handpicked embroidery, patchwork and block prints, her designs are deeply entrenched in Indian culture. Sujata explains, “Whenever I come up with a sari design, I think to myself: ‘Imagine I’m going to wear it’. So, I put in extra care for each one.” Incidentally her range of garments also includes lehenga saris, salwars, anarkalis and skirts.
When it comes to the six yards of silk, minimalistic design has been Sujata’s mantra. “Previously saris were designed in a rigid manner, but now it takes more of an Indo-western avatar to attract young women,” she says. Using handwoven silk, the sari maker opines that traditional craftsmanship ought to be taken forward to the global market in an effective way. Going light weight and easy to drape is the way to do that, she says. “The panels are pre-stitched so you don’t even need to pleat the sari,” smiles the psychology graduate who has mastered the art of the weave without a degree in designing or textiles, but is inspired by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Ritu Sharma, and Manish Malhotra
(For more details, contact: 9840778558)
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / by Express Features – Chennai / May 02nd, 2013
