Xavier Labor Relations Institute (XLRI) embark on the road towards volunteerism, by celebrating the Joy of Giving Week

XLRIs spirit of volunteerism was rekindled with the celebration of Joy of Giving Week. XLRI organized a series of activities to support different causes to bring together the entire city towards a common objective, that is, the Joy of Giving. The entire week from September 27 to October 3 was celebrated as Joy of Giving week which witnessed various programs held over the week.

The celebrations started with Bike Rally on September 27. This service before self Bike rally was a success in connecting the entire city to participate in Joy of Giving Week. This day was also dedicated to the senior citizens. On A day with the Aged the students visited Nirmal Hrudaya an old age home in Jamshedpur and spent time with the old people there. The students performed dance, played music and distributed sweets to them.

In addition, street plays were performed by the Dramatics Club of XLRI DRACULA at Ashiana Gardens and Sun City to raise awareness about the Festival of Philanthropy and about Vastra-Samman, the clothes collection drive initiative.

The students celebrated Dusshera with Cancer Patient on September 28, 2009, They spent time with them at the Meherbai Memorial Cancer Hospital and gifted them sweets, fruits and flower. The students also organized a blood donation camp for the cancer patients.

XLRI celebrated Labor Day on September 29 to recognize the contribution of the helping staff of the institute. The students expressed their gratitude by serving lunch to the staff of XLRI.

Vastra Samman -Clothes Collection Drive, was organised at XLRIs old cafeteria where people from different walks of life and strata of the society donated their clothes. JUSCO, Telcon and Tata Steel also participated in this initiative. Clothes were also collected at Aashiana Gardens, Sun City with around 30 schools as participants. The same day saw the observation of ‘Silent auction: donate generously and bid generously’, a fund raising event. The money collected was dedicated towards various causes.

September 30, 09 was observed as ‘Celebrate the Child’ day by helping the most vulnerable section of the society, children. Around 50 children from an orphanage visited XLRI Campus. The students planned events, games and other activities for the children. As part of this spirit of Volunteerism week, students propagated the idea: ‘Give back to the Earth”. Energy conservation campaign and cycling through the city to spread awareness were few of the activities planned for the day. Save energy, reduce wastage and give back to Gaiato Mother Earthare the major thoughts which XLRI wants to instill in people.

The Second last day of the week, on 2nd October the students celebrated the birthday of the Father of nation. On this day movies were showcased and discussion held to revive the memory of the Mahatma and his relevance in modern India.

The festival ended with the health camp,’Health is wealth’. The students of XLRI participated to provide health related services and facilities to the poor and needy in the slums and villages.

Leadership Talk – Uncommon ground: Bazaars, Conversations and Freedom at Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar (XIMB).

XIMB played host to two distinguished individuals, Rohini Nilekani and Rajni Bakshi on October 6. Nilekani is a social activist and the chairperson of Arghyam and Pratham books while Bakshi, a thinker and economist, has recently released her book ‘Bazaars, Conversations and Freedom: For A Market Culture Beyond Greed and Fear’.

The evening started with Bakshi raising a question on the relationship between the first basic principles and the free market economy. With vivid examples, she tried to germinate ideas on the role a free market plays in upholding the freedom of expression, exchange and cooperation. Bakshi talked about the manifestations of a broad world where people talk about self interest as not just an isolated unit. She also talked on Amartya Sens work and the need to give an ethical dimension to economics and how self interest can play a big role towards the greater good of the world. Bakshi stressed on the dissociation of GNP as an indicator of economic growth and wellbeing.

Nilekani took the discussion further by showcasing ecology and economy through the lens of water. She talked about the great management crisis of water that the world faces today. Nilekani explained how globalization and urbanization have given rise to conflicting paradigms in the water sector. Water as a social or economic commodity, struggle of the water rights of the poor, new paradigms of decentralized and closed loop approaches in resolving water crises were some of the issues that were put forth for discussion by the speaker.

Students actively took part in the largely interactive session and suggested their views and takes on the same. Questions on feasibility issues, role of public private partnerships, stricter regulatory laws and reforms and an active citizenry were addressed by the speakers.