IIM-Sambalpur organises certificate programme for Odisha’s weavers in vernacular language

Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, emphasized the institute’s commitment to acknowledging and supporting India’s indigenous handloom industry. He highlighted that before British colonization, India was responsible for 25 per cent of the world’s textile production, a stark contrast to the current scenario where this contribution has dwindled to less than 3 per cent.

Prof. Jaiswal said, “We believe the textile industry is crucial for India’s development. To promote marketing and distribution, we took the first step to partner with Flipkart. However, we soon realized that our skilled master weavers and artisans require fundamental business knowledge in areas such as GST and invoicing, marketing to deliver business training etc. in Odia languages. This pioneering effort makes IIM Sambalpur the first management institute in India to offer business education in the vernacular language, with a specific focus on supporting local enterprises.”

The director further highlighted that the upcoming phase of training is designed to enhance the skills of the weavers in market creation. The curriculum of the same includes instruction on the five Ps of marketing (Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People) and an exploration of global market trends. “To facilitate this process, incubation support is deemed necessary. Consequently, the initiation of a startup aimed at global product marketing is underway. The ultimate objective is to establish a ‘Bunkar Valley,’ akin to Silicon Valley, with a specific emphasis on elevating India’s weaving industry on the global stage.” he said.