Working Through the Lockdown : Campus Karma

A Joint Initiative of Calcutta Management Association and MAKAUT, WB

Prof. Maitra at the Webinar

Prof. Mukherjee, Prof . Maitras, Mr. Kajaria and Mr. Shenoy

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT). WB organized a webinar with Calcutta Management Association (CMA) about coping with the Lockdown situation to check the spread of Corona Virus on 23.06.20. Several experts from industry narrated their experiences, as to how they coped up with the Lockdown sitution.

The Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. (Dr.) Saikat Maitra delivered a very inspiring speech regarding how to make everything running and maintain the aspirations of students, aho are our greatest assets.

At this point, he mentioned that certain opportunities are also emerging for the young generation, in this Lockdown situation, which are important. In order to take such opportunities, they must be skilled in the digital domain encompassing Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Social Media Marketing, Digital Analytics and so on. In order to take care of their livelihoods, the ypung people must be skilled in the application of such technologies.

Prof. Maitra pointed out the areas where new opportunities will emerge. Some of these are:

freelancing services
starting own websites
online services
virtual assistance in translating
content writing
blogging
starting YouTube channel
E Book writing

T V Srinivas Shenoy

The Coordinator Prof. Indranil Mukherjee rightly pointed out that these are the areas which the Lockdown has turned into comparative advantage. MAKAUT is already oushing in this line and set up an Entrepreneurship Cell to boost small business especially in the above areas.

The next speaker Mr. T V Srinivas Shenoy,Vice President of CMA and Chief of New Materials Business at Tata Steel mentioned that in the first phase of Lockdown, we enjoyed staying with our family members. In the second phase we realized this is going to be the way of life and getting connected through internet became essential. In the third phase the demarcation between work and home has got jumbled up. As we cannot end office work, we are getting stressed and that is causing mental fatigue. We have to design a way out and overcome this situation.

Sunil Kajaria

Mr Sunil Kajaria, Member of CMA and CEO of Keventer Agro LTD (Keventer Bananas) gave 5 Five Lockdown Sutras/Rules for all. These are:

Be a morning person and drerss properly before starting online meetings
Give attention to enhance communication skills
Be a digital native
Take breaks while working from home and have coffee/tea to come out of the monotony
Take breaks at weekend and chase your passions, be it work from home or work from office

Mr. Kajaria explaised the strategy with which Keventer distributed products to its customers, after an initial disruption in the supply chain. The Lockdown situation has also taught the company that the future distribution channel will be different. Everybody has to remember:

Whatever you do, do in speed
Maintain your presence through social media and traditional marketing
Give more and more importance to E Commerce

Thus Lockdown has indicated, new job opportunities will open up in the E Commerce sector. Prof. Mukherjee mentioned aty this point that MAKAUT has already introduced Courses on Digital Marketing and E Commerce which must be more relevant fore the job market and help the students enhance their employability.

Mr. Banerjee with other speakers

Mr. Anirban Banerjee, Regional Resource Manager, Tanishq said that crisis always demands boldness and learning. The Lockdown and work from home situation has made 4 R's more relevant:

Reflection
Reinvent
Reimagine
Rejuvinate

The biggest challenge before Tanishq was to engage teams to maintain positivity and keep up the energy of all by applying these 4 R's. The Company became more creative, focussed on solutions, kept in touch with customers and business associates to gain an insight of the market.

It may be mentioned that Calcutta Management Association (CMA) was instituted in 1957 following the recommendations of a committee constituted by the All India Council of Technical Education. This committee advocated setting up of Regional Management Association in major cities of India. CMA was formed as the first institution of its kind in the country, under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Education. CMA was the prime force behind the formation of the All India Management Association (AIMA), the apex body for management education in India.

Working Through the Lockdown

A Joint Initiative of Calcutta Management Association and MAKAUT, WB

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Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata