Manipal, Karnataka Jan 30: T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) Manipal completed two flagship community engagement initiatives , SEVA (Society, Environment, Values & Attitudes) Jatre and SAMVRIDDHI 2025–26 on 23rd–26th January. These initiatives created meaningful impact through grassroots partnerships; sustainable entrepreneurship; and socially innovative activities involving MBA Students and local businesses i.e., artisans, self-help groups/NGOs, and civic stakeholders working together collaboratively to solve local community issues.
In addition to months of field immersion, problem solving workshops, and mentorship-driven projects, TAPMI students used these management frameworks to provide access to markets for artisans and farmers, provide digital services to micro-businesses, develop best practices for waste management, support community health initiatives, all solutions practical, ethical, and sustainable after the programme period.This year’s SEVA Jatre saw participation from leading social enterprises including SELCO, Namma Shyli, Ghar by Malsi, ECOCO Creations, Mattu Gulla, Crafts Mantra, e-Samudday, Malpe Meen, Sutradhar Social Ventures (Mumbai) and Ubantu Foundation (New Delhi).
Complementing this, SAMVRIDDHI 2025–26 focused on building grassroots capacity and social entrepreneurship. Nearly 50 local entrepreneurs were trained in solar micro-entrepreneurship through hands-on sessions conducted by SELCO, while 60 rural women received sustainable menstrual hygiene kits to promote health, dignity and environmental responsibility. Both initiatives were supported by the TAPMI Alumni Association, reflecting strong alumni commitment to community development.
The panel on “How Can B-Schools Contribute to Scalable Social Impact?” engaged in an insightful discussion with leading figures in the social sector. The event was moderated by Prof Purnima Venkat, with the following panellists:
- Mr Sumit Singh – Advisor, National Cooperative Union of India
- Ms Archana Tomar – Founder, Sutradhar Social Ventures
- Ms Renu Jayaram – Founder, Crafts Mantra
- Ms Mahalasa Kini – Founder, Ghar by Malsi
The discussion focused on the significance of long-term academic/societal partnerships being the foundation of sustainable and scalable impact in India.
Dr Durga Prasad (Director-in-Charge, TAPMI) believed that “SEVA Jatre and SAMVRIDDHI are both representative of TAPMI’s fundamental philosophy that management education must combine academic disciplines with an active participation in society. Participating in community projects enriches students’ professional abilities, encourages development of empathy and accountability, and instills a sense of responsibility toward national building”.
Dr Gururaj Kidiyoor (Dean – Academics, TAPMI) commented that ‘these programmes help in creating a dynamic learning environment where students can apply the knowledge gained through academic and experiential learning to solve the practical challenges facing the communities in which they work. By working with community partners, students are exposed to real-world issues and develop critical thinking and problem solving skills”
SEVA Jatre and SAMVRIDDHI, over the years, have evolved into TAPMI’s signature platforms for social engagement, integrating academic excellence with community relevance. The 2025-26 editions continued to reinforce TAPMI’s identity as an inherent partner in regional development, as well as a leader in responsible management education.
Moreover, all of these initiatives were coordinated by faculty members of the Centre for Sustainability and Competitiveness, including professors Ishwar Haritas, Padmavathi Shenoy, Aniruddha Chatterjee, Vidya Pratap, Sunil K. Yadav and Latha Takur.
For this year’s editions, approximately 1,000 students, 50+ families of faculty members, and 25-30 representatives from local vendors/community participated, making it one of TAPMI’s biggest community engagement efforts to date.