Agenda @ atmanirbhar bharat by UIAMS, PU

Chandigarh: As India Embarks on a new journey of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” Entrepreneurs and Corporate Relations Cell of University Institute of Applied Management Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh under the advice and guidance of Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, took this peculiar initiative of organizing the webinar “Agenda @ Atmanirbhar Bharat”. The webinar was organized to enable students understand the whole narrative of it by roping in eminent and distinguished personalities who are at zenith of their careers including Mr. Rahul Narvekar, serial entrepreneur, Mr. KS Bhatia, CEO and Founder Pumpkart and Figgital and Mr. Ravi Kumar, SP (HQ) Jalandhar.

Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University in his inaugural address highlighted that the global pandemic has shown us the benefits of ‘Be Indian and Buy Indian’. We have now become critically aware of our own supply chain. We know that relying on other countries for critical items will ultimately put you at their mercy. To avoid such adversity for ourselves, it is more important than ever that we become self-reliant and reduce our dependence on other countries. The pandemic has taught the importance of local manufacturing, local market and local supply chain. Emphasis of ‘vocal for local’ asserts that it is all about ‘made in India’ and is to increase to push Indian products to become large enough to become international brands.The NEP 2020 has gone in for a significant overhaul of the education system—from terminologies and institutional framework to functionality—when it comes to transforming the governance, delivery, and financing of education. NEP will be the harbinger of movement towards Atmanirbhar and Swabhiman Bharat. Further he talked about promoting multidisciplinary approach, scouting for  partners from numerous  fields like industry, academicians, researchers and focus on technology and promote collaboration with national and international institutions and these tie ups should be in the right direction to create synergies. This will help India become ATMANIRBHAR and students becoming job providers not job seekers only.

Mr. Ravi Kumar an IPS officer and currently serving as SP (Superintendent of Police) Cyber Cell Jalandhar provided valuable insights in the field of data security and its vulnerabilities. He began by explaining how pivotal data is in the functioning of any enterprise and startups where 68% of business leaders feel their cyber security risks are increasing and only 5 % of company’s folders are properly protected. With help of various live examples, he talked about various vulnerabilities like unsecured websites, improper cookie policy, SQL injection attacks, Brute force attacks and others and also suggested remedies like stronger IT Act, IPR protection for startup, Data Protection Law, increasing manpower training and more security experts. In the time of Covid 19, these cyber attacks have been increased 3 times. So, we all must be very aware of Data Security.
Mr. K. S. Bhatia founder and C.E.O of B2C platform Pumpkart.com is also launching another startup Figgital (non essential hyper local platform) at the end of this month appreciated Prime Minister for launching initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Startup India, Digital India, Skill India, Made in India and told how Startups are the key to success of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He advised students to work on innovation and also laid emphasis on the importance of parents encouraging students to go for startups. He is also starting IAS (Indian Association of Startups) with the aim to encourage more startups’ and build more unicorns in India. He also appealed to everyone to celebrate PM Narendra Modi 70th birthday on 17th September as World Startup Day.

Mr. Rahul Narvedkar, Social Entrepreneur, Speaker, Investor and Mentor, and founder and CEO of various ventures including Startup Studio India, Sun and Sands Advisors, Japan, The India Network, NDTV Indian Roots and FashionandYou.com told us about his own story. How at one time, he did not have money to pay salaries and later sold Indian Roots ecommerce platform for such a high valuation. He achieved it by not following the rules of book and he went on to say that if you have the right approach and idea money is not a constraint.After that he started India Networks to provide mentorship for kids in small town so that language and geography do not remain a constraint intertwined with the aim of 1 Million startups from rural India in next 3 tears. He also had Indian Angel Fund which has so far done 3 investments all in women led startups. He in his speech laid emphasis on creating an ecosystem which can lead to innovation.  He motivated the students by saying that we need to understand  and celebrate our failures like an event and not label people as failures. We have to invest in people and create role models. By doing this, we can create an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Prof. Upasna Joshi Sethi extended a formal welcome to the guests and said that a self-reliant India will develop with focus on five pillars viz economy, which brings in quantum jump and not incremental change; infrastructure, which should become the identity of India; technology-driven system; vibrant demography; and nascent demand, especially in the rural hinterland.
All the queries of the students were successfully taken up by the eminent guests and concomitantly they were answered too which made this event an eye opener for the students. Dr. Monika Aggarwal. Associate Professor, UIAMS moderated questions and answers session and proposed vote of thanks. Efforts of ECRC Cell of UIAMS including BarkhaRawat, KartikayNikhanj and Deeksha were also appreciated.