Jamshedpur : XLRI SIGMA-oikos, the social initiative committee conducted the 6th edition of Social Entrepreneurship Conclave in offline mode

Jamshedpur ।

SIGMA-oikos, the social initiative committee of XLRI, conducted the 6th edition of Social Entrepreneurship Conclave in offline mode this year on 18th February. The theme for the 6th Edition of SEC was “Exploring waste management through an entrepreneurial lens” with an aim of celebrating, highlighting, and learning from those making a change in this field through their ventures and creating a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaborations. This idea explored the importance of improving the accessibility, availability, and affordability of proper waste management methods in India through innovative solutions. SEC provided a platform for Social Entrepreneurs working in the waste management sector to share their insights drawn from their rich experiences in overcoming various obstacles through innovation and grit.

The conference had two subthemes, where social entrepreneurs and development sector professionals shared their experiences, challenges, and other issues, and was structured around the following broad tracks/ sessions-

● Leveraging technology in the entrepreneurship sphere
● Building a sustainable and profitable business for waste management

The Dean Academics of XLRI Jamshedpur Dr. Sanjay Patro graced the occasion which witnessed close to 100 participants. The conclave started off by lighting of the auspicious lamp by our keynote speaker Wilma Rodrigues, Dean Academics Dr. Patro and the rest of the speakers.
Soon after, the founder of Saahas Zero Waste, Wilma Rodrigues, presented the keynote address on the theme “Exploring waste management through an entrepreneurial lens”. Ms. Rodrigues discussed the importance of prioritising people and planet before profits and incorporating the same in the business models. She emphasised the role of circular economy and how 96% of waste can be recovered and go back to the economy. This can help not only in efficient waste management but also in rejuvenating the economy and providing livelihood to people. She then went on to highlight how her organisation Saahas Zero Waste is a social enterprise that provides decentralised end-to-end waste management services. The organization works to bring about environmental & social impact based on the principles of circular economy and global commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

After an enriching keynote session, Dr Jayanarayan Kulathingal (Co-Founder and Director Bintix), Mr Saurabh Suman (Co-founder Citygen Technology) and Mr N Chandrashekhar (Director Jivoule Biofuels) engaged in a panel discussion on the sub-theme “Leveraging Technology in the Entrepreneurship Sphere”. The session was moderated Mr. Sanjeev Anand Sahu, an academician at ISM Dhanbad. The discussion revolved around the inefficiencies of conventional waste collection system and how organisations like Bintix, Citygen and Jivoule Biofuels have platforms built into place for tracking waste, industrial cameras with peripheral vision to oversee the entire process and AI and ML integrated to identify and segregate packaging and waste. Leveraging technology in the field of waste management can enhance earning potential, generate employment and efficiently help manage waste. Yet again, there was an emphasis on circular economy as these organizations (Bintix) can harness that waste into biofuel energy. The capital lost can be utilised in infrastructure and other necessities. This builds a cycle of continuous process of improvement and responsibility. The panellists agreed that the integration of profit, people and planet is social entrepreneurship.
The post-lunch session saw the 2nd panel discussion on “Building a Sust…