Mangaluru: Manasa Manthana 2016, a national level paper presentation competition was organized by MAKARIOS- the Management Club at the Post Graduate Department of Business Administration, AIMIT, St Aloysius College, Beeri on Wednesday October 5.

‘Manasa manthana’ which means churning of the mind is analogous to the mythical churning of the ocean. It involves vigorous tossing and stirring up of new paradigms in the realm of management. Every year significant and current issues are proposed and a platform is given to students to put forth their views. The theme for Manasa manthana 2016 was ‘Major Lacuna In corporate India - service to less privileged communities’.

In the last two decades, there has been increasing dialogue about the role of business in society. Economists had earlier argued that the responsibility of business was to generate profit within the framework of the local regulations conventions. Business met this responsibility by focusing narrowly on shareholder interests. In the process, however, they directly or indirectly contributed to increasingly complex and large-scale social problems (defined as “externalities”). Unsustainable consumption of natural resources, corruption, environmental pollution, inequality and displacement were just some of the consequent challenges that society faced.

Given the scale and complexity of these challenges, governments were unable to address them independently. Business and civil society needed to work with government to find and implement solutions to these problems. This required a new definition of the responsibility of business towards society. If business had to take more responsibility to address social and environmental concerns, a review and change of work-place practices in the entire value chain was required. Managers had to develop new knowledge and skills: for instance, they had to develop more inclusive, long-term goals & strategies and work with multiple stakeholders (some of whom were less organized and powerful than institutional shareholders) to achieve them. They needed to understand the circumstances and concerns of stakeholders hitherto ignored and address these even while achieving business results.

Manasa manthana 2016 aims at brainstorming to devise effective strategies to inculcate such responsible behaviour.This will go a long way in contributing to the goal of an inclusive society.

Prarthana Prateek Kaul, the chief guest for the occasion is a cause marketer, motivational trainer, consultant and co-founder of Gift abled a social enterprise which strives to create an eco system of light minded individuals and collectively build a disabled friendly just and a healthy society.

The guest of honour for the occasion, Nicole Schulze is the managing director of International programmes, at Mercator School of Management. Fr Denzil Lobo SJ, Director, AIMIT; Dean of MBA Department Dr Roweena Wright and Faculty Coordinator Harinakshi along with student coordinators Ms Chryselle Fernandes and Nitish Moger were present on the occasion.

Prarthana Prateek Kaul addressed the gathering on the role of volunteering in the life of individuals and corporations. Her detailed narrative about the joys and challenges of working among people with hearing impairity and other like disabilities was truly riveting.

Volunteering, Kaul maintained, is doing something out of own will without any expectation of returns. On a concluding note she advised students to actively volunteer, describing how one minute of their time could bring a big change in someone else’s life.

The guest of honour, Nicole Schulze, gave a detailed picture of the education system in Germany. She highlighted opportunities for the students for higher education and financial aids that they provide for education. She also spoke about the opportunities for internships in Germany.

The director of AIMIT Fr Denzil Lobo SJ spoke about his experiences at Kalighat Calcutta, a home for the terminally ill run by Mother Teresa where he experienced the satisfaction of volunteering, side by side with volunteers from across the globe. The director informed the gathering that the annual Rural Exposure Camp at AIMIT gives students an opportunity to serve and volunteer.