ANNUAL REPORT

2006-2007

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, GUWAHATI,

INTRODUCTION :

Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), has completed 13^th year of its operation on 31^st March 2007. During this period the Institute has expanded its activities to a great extent covering all facets of SME activities. IIE’s Regional Office at Uttaranchal has become fully operational. Since its establishment and up to March 2007, the Institute has organized 1167 training programmes/ workshops/seminars/meets where 38524 participants participated. One of the major achievements of the Institute is the attainment of ISO-9001-2000 certification by Bureau of Indian Standards.

OBJECTIVES :

The major objectives of the Institute are: to organize and conduct training for entrepreneurship development; to evolve strategies & methodologies for different target groups and locations and field test them; to identify training needs and offer training programmes to Government and non-Government Organisations engaged in promoting and supporting entrepreneurship; to document and disseminate information needed for policy formulation and implementation related to self-employment; to identify, design and conduct training programmes for existing entrepreneurs; to prepare and publish literature related to entrepreneurship & industrial development; to organize seminars, workshops & conferences for providing forum for interaction and exchange of views by various agencies and entrepreneurs; to conduct research to generate knowledge for accelerating the process of entrepreneurship development; to act as a catalyst for development of self-employment/entrepreneurship, industry/business; and to evolve, design and help use of various media for creating entrepreneurship.

SPONSORSHIP :

The Institute is under the Ministry of MSME (earlier SSI), Government of India.  Besides the Government of India, the North Eastern Council, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Government of Nagaland, Government of Assam are other stake holders of the Institute.

DISCIPLINES:

The Institute has four academic divisions viz.- Centre for Enterprise Development & Management, Centre for Entrepreneurship Education, Centre for Industrial Extension & Consultancy and Centre for Information Management. 

ACTIVITIES:

The Institute organizes training programmes and undertakes research and consultancy activities in the fields of promotion of small and micro enterprises and entrepreneurship. During 2006-2007, the Institute organized training programmes in the field of entrepreneurship development, entrepreneurship education, sensitization of environment for entrepreneurship and growth of existing entrepreneurs. It also organized training programmes to meet the requirements of specific areas and also specific target groups. In addition, the Institute organized programmes on Information Technology. It undertook research and consultancy activities in the field of entrepreneurship and small industry. The details of activities undertaken during the financial year 2006-2007 are presented below:

TRAINING:

During the year 2006-07 the Institute organised 225 training programmes, seminars,workshops and meets where 9111 beneficiaries participated against 155 numbers of programmes covering 5278 participants in the year 2005-2006. Out of the total 225 completed programmes, 61 programmes were on Promotion of New Entrepreneurs, 103 programmes on Growth of Existing Entrepreneurs, 17 programmes on Creation of Environment for Entrepreneurship, 32 programmes on Entrepreneurship Education, 3 programmes on Information Technology and 9 Seminars, Workshops and Meets. Better infrastructure facilities of the Institute, greater awareness and addition of new areas of Entrepreneurship Development have been responsible for increase in number of programmes. The type and number of training programmes organized and number of participants trained during 2006-2007 as against 2005-2006 is given in Table I :

Table: I

Type and Number of Programmes of Participants

PROMOTION OF NEW ENTREPRENEURS

Promotion of new entrepreneurs has been the major focus area of training organized by IIE. In order to promote new entrepreneurs, the Institute organized Rural, General and Women EDPs, Sector Specific EDPs, etc. details of which are given in table II:

TABLE – II

Promotion of New Entrepreneurs

Rural Industries Programme

Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship organized its first RIP in Nagaon district of Assam during 1996-97 with the support of SIDBI with an objective to promote  rural enterprises. Based on the success of Nagaon RIP, mission was extended to Barpeta in Assam, Imphal in Manipur and Tura in Meghalaya. During the year, IIE started its RIP at Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya with the objective of promoting viable and self-sustaining tiny and small enterprises in rural and semi-urban areas of the district. IIE provided counseling services to 103 entrepreneurs, prepared 24 Bankable schemes and submitted 12 projects for finance. As a result of IIE’s sincere effort, 5 units have been grounded in the district.

STED Project

IIE started the Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development (STED) Project in Bongaigaon district of Assam in the month of May 2006. Under National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Board under Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Scheme. This scheme endeavors to map the available material, resources in industrially backward region and prepare a basket of technically feasible and economically viable project profiles of enterprises that could be promoted by local Science and Technology Entrepreneurs and thereafter tapping of hitherto un-utilized/ underutilized resources through enterprise formation.

During the year IIE conducted 7 numbers of Entrepreneurship Awareness camps where 253 numbers of participants attended. A total of 309 of people utilized the services of Bongaigaon STED office. During this period 12 units were launched, which includes 4 manufacturing units, 3 servicing units and 5 firm sector units. The total numbers of employments generated in these units is 69.

SECTOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES

At the instance of Coir Board, Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, Government of India, the Institute organized seventeen Sector Specific Programmes in Coir based industries, considering the immense potential of this Sector in the North East, where 1243 participants from North Eastern Region participated.

At the instance of the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, the Institute also organized three programmes, one on Herbal Medicine, one on Areca nut leaf plates and one on Rubber Plantation Industry where a total of 67 participants participated.

The Institute also organized one programme on Finishing and Dying Techniques Cane & Bamboo products at Dimapur, Nagaland where 25 participants participated.

GROWTH OF EXISTING ENTREPRENEURS :

The Institute organized a series of Programmes for growth and development of existing entrepreneurs during the financial year 2006-07. The Institute has organized 85 Programmes for KVIC beneficiaries, where 3323 beneficiaries have been trained.

At the instance of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Institute organized 6 Trainers’ Training programmes on Team Building & Mentoring at different places of North Eastern States where 124 participants participated.

The Institute also conducted one Entrepreneurship Development Programme on Gem Stone Processing of six weeks duration where 23 entrepreneurs participated.

At the instance of the North Eastern Council, Shillong, the Institute organized one programme on Profit Planning and three programmes on Common Facility Centre. The programmes were attended by 100 prospective entrepreneurs.

The Institute also organized two programmes on Export Marketing, one announced and one in collaboration with IIFT, to create awareness about the opportunities in export sector. The programmes were attended by 77 entrepreneurs of the region. 

During the year the Institute also organized four programmes on cluster activities such as Dying, Finishing, Product Development etc. where 74 participants participated.

The Institute also organized a programme on Marketing of Horticultural Products in collaboration with IGNOU where 35 entrepreneurs participated.

TABLE:III

Growth of Existing Entrepreneurs

CREATION OF ENVIRONMENT FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Considering the importance of Creating Environment for Entrepreneurship development, the Institute has been organizing Programme for orientation of the support officials. During the year, the Institute has organized 17 such Programmes, where 407 participants participated. Details are given in table IV:

Table : IV

Creation of Environment for Entrepreneurship

ENTREPRENERESHIP EDUCATION

Creating Awareness and Orientation for College and university teachers in Entrepreneurship has been one of the core areas of the Institute. The Institute organized 2 Faculty Developmemt Programmes in Entrepreneurship for School, College and University Teachers where 53 teachers participated.

Creating Awareness and Orientation for College and University students on Entrepreneurship has been another thrust area of the Institute. During the year the Institute organized 25 awareness camps for the students of Colleges and Universities, 4 programmes for Polytechnic students, and 1 programme for the youth in general under STED. Details are given in table V:

Table : V

Entrepreneurship Education

The Institute has been instrumental in opening up Information & Career Guidance Cell (ICGC) in a number of colleges through its Teachers’ Taining Programmes.  Till March, 2007, 75 colleges have opened such ICGC in different parts of the Region.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

During the year, the Institute has organized 3 Training Programmes on IT Sector. The Institute announced and organized one Programme on Basic Computer Application Skills where 21 participants attended. It also organized one AIRTSC sponsored programme for youths of schedule caste community where 25 participants participated. The Institute also started its six months Teachers’ Training Programme on Computer Applications where 20 teachers are participating.

Table : VI

Programmes on IT Sector

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

The Institute has been organizing Seminar, Workshop, meets and Conferences for providing forum for interaction and exchange of views by various agencies and entrepreneurs. During the year, the Institute organized nine Workshops/Seminars, two each on Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development Scheme, Scheme Firm for Regeneration of Traditional Industries, Coir Geo Textile and one each on Handloom Cluster, Agriculture Service Sector and Jute diversification.  Altogether 456 participants attended these Workshops/Seminars.

Table:VII

 Seminars/Workshops/Meets

COMPREHENSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The Institute under the sponsorship of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India has initiated a unique programme of Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Development (CEDP) on Gemstones Cutting & Polishing and Hosiery & Woolen Garment manufacturing. The Institute has set up two training centres, one at its premises and one at Aizawl in collaboration with Directorate of Industries, Government of Mizoram, for Gemstone Cutting & Polishing. For Hosiery & Woolen Garment manufacturing, two centres were set up at Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with Khadi and Village Industries Boards of respective State Governments. The project, which is the first of its kind in North East, imparts skill development training to prospective entrepreneurs and artisans by offering a six-month and three months certificate courses in Gemstone Cutting & Polishing and Hosiery manufacturing respectively. It provides incubation facilities, technical support, guidance and market linkages to prospective entrepreneurs in these sectors. Till March 2007, 55 entrepreneurs in Gemstone and 57 in Hosiery were trained. In Gemstone sector 22 participants have started their ventures. In Hosiery sector, 11 entrepreneurs have started their ventures.

CLUSTER INITIATIVE OF THE INSTITUTE

The Cane & Bamboo Cluster at Dimapur in Nagaland and Handloom Cluster in Manipur are IIE’s maiden ventures into the cluster initiative in North East, under the sponsorship of Development Commissioners of MSME and Handloom, Government of India. Considering the availability of local resources and local craftsmanship, IIE has initiated the process of development of cluster of traditional and rural artisans in these sectors.

A Team of six cluster actors from Cane & Bamboo Cluster at Dimapur participated in the India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 14 to 27 November 2006 and received warm response.

Mr Alemba Longkumer, a member artisan of IIE’s Cane & Bamboo Cluster in Dimapur, Nagaland, was awarded the Citigroup Micro Entrepreneur Award 2006 for the East & North East region. Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Commerce Shri Jairam Ramesh awarded him in New Delhi on 20^th December 2006. In the same platform IIE was given a Certificate of Appreciation for its works in promoting entrepreneurs like Mr. Longkumer.

The Craft Gallery, a product showroom of Dimapur Cane and Bamboo Cluster started functioning. The Association office of the cluster actors was also inaugurated under the name of Craft Council of Nagaland. The website of the cluster http://www.bamcanecluster.com/ has also been launched.

The Imphal Handloom Cluster has just started its operation with the recruitment of cluster development executive, pre-diagnostic study on the cluster and drawing out the action plan for its development, awareness workshop in the areas and formation of the Cluster Development Coordination Committee. This Cluster was adopted with an aim to make Manipur Handloom & Design visible and saleable nationally and internationally.

A group of 16 weavers from Imphal Cluster participated in the North East Trade Expo organized by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) at Okhla Industrial Ground in Delhi. During the exhibition, the weavers managed to reach a sales turn over of more than 2.5 lakhs. During this period two buyer seller meets were organized and the weavers of Manipur cluster managed to bag orders for their products from domestic as well as export buyers.

The Institute organized a series of Bankers’ Meet, Stakeholders’ Meet and Buyer Seller Meet during the year. A five days Exhibition cum Sale Campaign of Handloom & Handicraft products of cluster actors was also organized at Guwahati from 23 to 27 October 2006, as part of its Cluster Initiative. Twenty five cluster actors from Nagaland and Manipur participated in the exhibition.

Scheme of Fund For Regeneration of Traditional Industries(SFURTI):

The Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, Government of India have launched scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), a mega project with cluster development approach. This project aims to adopt 10 clusters in North East India under Khadi and traditional industry sector and showcase them as the success stories. In this project KVIC has been identified as the Nodal Agency, which would spearhead the implementation of the scheme in spirit and form and IIE has been identified as the Technical Agent for the project in North Eastern India. IIE has started a series of sensitization programmes for the officials of implementing agencies and also taken up the task of assisting the Nodal Agency in the pre-diagnostic studies for the prospective clusters conducted in the region.

The Institute conducted a training programme for the implementing agencies selected under SFURTI and organized a Workshop for the State Heads and CEOs of KVICs & KVIBs of the region. Sushree Kumud Ben Joshi, Chairperson, KVIC, attended the workshop as Chief Guest wherein she stressed on the uniqueness of all the Northeastern States and the enormous potential lying within the region awaiting to be harnessed.

BUSINESS FACILITATION & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Business Facilitation & Development Centre (BFDC) is a wing of Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) to provide support services to small enterprises in North Eastern Region of India including Sikkim.  The BFDC has been positioned to help the first generation entrepreneurs who suffers heavily due to lack of information regarding business venture opportunities, market details, technical and financial aspects, addresses of machinery and raw materials suppliers etc. 

During the year, 562 entrepreneurs utilized the services of BFDC. 130 Project Reports have been prepared and submitted to Commercial Banks and NEDFi for finance, out of which financial assistance for 55 projects have been sanctioned already. A total of 57 new business units made operational during the year. In this short period of existence, BFDC has made its presence felt in all the states of North East India.

RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY

During the year the Institute has completed the following Research and Consultancy studies :

Ø      “Pro poor Dairy Development in Assam : Improving Traditional Dairy Marketing and Processing” sponsored by International Livestock Research Institute.

Ø      “Women Entrepreneurs and Institutional Finance” sponsored by DC, SSI.

Ø       “A Study on Coir related activities in North East vis-à-vis Potentials”, sponsored by Coir Board of India, Ministry of ARI.

P G DIPLOMA COURSE IN MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Keeping in view the market demand with professional expertise and the available infrastructure, IIE has launched the Post Graduate Diploma Course in Management and Entrepreneurship (PGDME) which is one of its kinds in the entire Eastern and North Eastern Region. The course, the first batch of which started its classes in July 2006 was launched with the objective of creating high end entrepreneurs for the region. The course aims at providing comprehensive inputs on entrepreneurial as well as managerial aspects of running a business. It aims to instill in youths of the region the necessary skills and quality of being a successful entrepreneur.

BUSINESS DELEGATION

The entrepreneurs of North East are in lack of adequate knowledge and networking to explore the export market. With the objective of doing away with these drawbacks, the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship with the assistance from the Ministry of Small Scale industries have initiated the process of organizing business delegations to countries outside India to explore possibilities of doing trade with other countries. The second business delegation from North East to China and Hong Kong was organized during the month of September 2006. This 13-member delegation visited Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing to explore possibilities of future business opportunities for entrepreneurs through possible market linkages.

The delegation has proved to be quite successful in the sense that the representatives of this delegation have been able to establish relations with many of the organizations in Hong Kong and China like Federation of Hong Kong Industries(FHKI), Hong Kong Trade Development Council(HKTDC), Shanghai International Cooperation Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, China Enterprise Confederation(CEC), to name a few. Some of the areas of business opportunities that emerged as a result of this delegation are in the areas of Agro and Food Processing, Handicrafts, Handloom and Service sectors etc. IIE and FINER have taken the joint responsibilities of creating the awareness of the market potential of these sectors and acting as an intermediary for promoting business among the entrepreneurs in North East. One of the many positive outcomes of this delegation is the invitation put forward to the NE entrepreneurs by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to participate in the World SME Expo held in November in Hong Kong where mutually agreed cooperation was explored.

The Institute organized the third Business Delegation from North East to Japan and South Korea during March 2007. The 12-member delegation was lead with the twin objectives to explore the possibilities of future business opportunities for entrepreneurs in the Japanese and Korean markets through possible market linkages and also for tie-ups between industry associations of North East and industry/trade associations in Japan and Korea in the Small and Micro Enterprises sector, and to disseminate techno-commercial information and import of technological know-how from Japan and Korea to North East India for the benefit of the indigenous industries of the region.

During the visit to the Small Business Training Institute (SBTI) of Small Business Corporation (SBC) of Korea at Seoul, scope for getting support from the SBC by the individual delegates in respect of enterprise launching, product modification, transfer of technology, market linkages and specialized training for global business have emerged.

PUBLICATIONS:

The Institute publishes a Quarterly Newsletter, “Renascence”, which highlights the activities of the Institute and caters to the information needs of the entrepreneurs of North East.

The Institute also published a book titled “Self-Employment through Entrepreneurship” by Shri Jiten Chandra Kalita, IIE Faculty.

CELEBRATION OF HINDI DIVAS

Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship celebrated Hindi Divas in September 2006. Shri K. Ahmed, Director, IIE, highlighted the objectives and importance of Hindi Divas. A Hindi Quiz was also organized among the employees of IIE on the occasion.

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES

The Institute has drawn out an annual plan of activities for 2007-2008 on the following areas:

TRAINING:

The Institute proposes to conduct 215 numbers of training programmes during the year 2007-08. Proposals have been submitted to various Organizations/Departments for sponsoring of programmes. The Institute is also liaisoning with various Central/State Government Departments/Agencies, other organizations to make customized programmes for their target groups.  In addition, the Institute also proposes to organize demand-based programmes on fee basis.

One year Post Graduate Diploma on Management and Entrepreneurship (PGDME) was started in July 2006 and the next batch will be admitted in July 2007 for which selecton procedure is on.

Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Development Programme:

The Institute also proposes to organize two CEDPs of six months duration through its two Gemstone Cutting & Polishing Centres at Guwahati and Aizawl with incubation support services. In Hosiery and Garment Manufacturing sector, the Institute proposes to conduct one EDP cum Skill development programme of three months duration each at its Sikkim and Itanagar Centres. The centers will act as Common Facility Centres to the local entrepreneurs.

The Institute is in the process of setting up a Gems studded Jewellery Designing and Manufacturing Training and Incubation Centre in addition to the already existing Gemstone Cutting and Polishing Centre at Guwahati under its Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Development Programme (CEDP) Scheme. The Ministry of MSME, Government of India under the National Entrepreneurship Development Board (NEDB) Scheme, is supporting the programme. The Centre is expected to be operational by the middle of 2007.

AREA APPROACH PROGRAMMES:

Cluster Approach :

The Institute has started a series of activities for the progress of its Handloom Cluster at East Imphal, Manipur and Cane and Bamboo Cluster at Dimapur, Nagaland. 13 diagnostic study for Handloom Clusters covering the states of Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Uttaranchal has been submitted to DC, Handloom. Expression of interest for implementing the clusters has been submitted to DC, Handloom.

In principle approval for setting of RRC on cluster development has been received from DC, SSI. With the approval of the RRC, the year 2007-2008 will entail undertaking diagnostic studies for identification of viable clusters in all the eight States of North East India.

Scheme of Fund For Regeneration of Traditional Industries(SFURTI):

Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) is a mega project with industrial cluster development approach. The Institute’s technical guidance for 5 Village Industry Clusters, 2 Khadi Clusters and 2 Coir Clusters under the project will continue for 2007-2008. Two more Village Industry Clusters are also being identified. 

Rural Industries Programme:

The Institute started SIDBI sponsored Rural Industries Programme (RIP) in the North Eastern States of Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur with great success. Presently, the Institute has launched its RIP at Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya for five years with the twin objectives to identify local unemployed youth who have the desire to start business units and the existing units for their upgradation. IIE proposes to organize 12 awareness and motivational campaigns, 10 EDPs and 2 Bankers meet with a target to launch 50 units during 2007-2008.

STED Project

The Institute is into the second year of Science and Technology Development Programme in Bongaigaon district of Assam. The Institute proposes to undertake a series of activities including 6 awareness camps, 2 technology infusion programmes, 2 enterprise creation programmes and 2 Bankers meet during the year with a target to ground about 60 units.

RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY:

The Institute proposes to concentrate on research and consultancy work for which proposals have been submitted to various agencies. The Institute proposes to draw a few project proposals in the under mentioned areas

1. Border Trade, in the perspective of the Look East policy and the New Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, 2007

2. Livelihood Generation, in relation to promoting entrepreneurship and self employment among the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population in North East India

Besides, the Institute also proposes to go for a few evaluation studies in the areas of

1. Handloom Sector in North East India
2. Rural Employment Generation Programme
3. National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation

MEMBERSHIP OF GOVERNING BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:

Shri K. Ahmed:

Ø      Member, Governing Body, Assam Institute of Management, Guwahati

Ø      Member, Confederation of Indian Industry, National Committee on North East, Guwahati.

Ø      Member, Expert Committee of Department of S&T, Govt. of India to examine proposals.

Ø      Member, Governing Board, State Institute of Rural Development, Guwahati.

Ø      Member, Governing Council/General Body of Tool Room & Training Centre, Guwahati

Ø      Member, State Apprenticeship Council for Assam

Dr. S.K. Saikia

Ø      Executive Member, Guwahati Management Association

Ø      Management Committee Member: Extension Education Institute, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Shri P. Sarma

Ø      Member of Executive Committee of the “Entrepreneurship Development Cell” (EDC) of Cotton College, Guwahati

Ø      Member of the Advisory Body of “Fraday Bicentenary Science Park” of Cotton College, Guwahati

Ø      Advisor of “Professional Management Network” Guwahati.

Ø      Member of the Users Feedback Committee, University Grant Commission, NERO, Guwahati

Dr. S.B. Baruah

Ø      Member, Regional Consultative Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (RECARD), an independent think tank of Professionals and Practitioners constituted by NABARD.

Ø      Adviser to MSME Committee of FINER.

Ø      Member, Academic Advisory Committee of Assam Institute of Management.

Dr. Poonam Sinha

Ø      Life Member, Indian Science Congress

Shri B. Sarmah

Ø      Member, Guwahati Management Association

Shri A.K. Baruah

Ø      Member, Programme Advisory Committee, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Kamrup.

Shri J.C. Kalita

Ø      Associated with two NGOs as Adviser for promoting entrepreneurship

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

Seminars & Workshops

Dr. S.K. Saikia

Ø      Presented a paper on  “Strategy for Vocational Education in North East India”, in a seminar organised by Assam Engineering Institute, Guwahati on 02-05-2006.

Ø      Presented a paper on “Value Addition & Export Potential in North East”, in a seminar organised by the North East Sports and Welfare Association on 19-08-2006

Ø      Paper presented on “Holistic Approach for Rural Marketing in NE Region”, in a seminar organised by Indian Society for Agribusiness Professional, New Delhi & SIRD at Guwahati on 23-10-2006

Ø      Paper Presented on “Emerging Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Silk Products from NE Region”, organised by Central Silk Board, Guwahati on 22-11-2006.

Ø      Paper Presented on “ Bio-Resources & Employment Generation in NE Region”, organised by Gauhati University, on 19-04-2006.

Shri P. Sarma

Ø      Presented a paper on “ Entrepreneurship as career and scope of Bio resources” at the National Seminar organized by Department of Botany, Gauhati University and ASTEC, Govt. of Assam on 21-05-2006.

Ø      Attended Regional Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on “WTO Agriculture & NAMA Negotiation: Identifying Product of Concern to India” at Shillong on 26-10-2006. 

Ø      Delivered a talk on “Scope & opportunities of Women Entrepreneurs” on the occasion of International Women’s Day at Sankardev Kalakhetra on 12-02-2007 and at Bonda, Guwahati on 22-02-2007.

Dr. S.B. Baruah

Ø      Presented a paper titled ‘Issues Concerning Women Entrepreneurs in North East : Role of Multi-stakeholders’ at a National Seminar on ‘Women Entrepreneurship in Rural North East’ organized by NIRD on 28 February 2007.

Ø      Paper titled ‘Promoting Entrepreneurship in the SME Sector through Clusters : the Indian experience’ was accepted for presentation at the International Conference for Small Business (ICSB 2007) held in Finland in July 2007.

Training :

Shri P. Sarma

Ø      Attended “Monitoring cum Training Workshop” on DST activities organized by Department of Science & Technology, Government of India at Bhopal from 13^th  - 16^th September 2006

Shri B. Sharma

Ø      Attended a training programme of State Resource Persons on RTI Act from 11^th to 13^th September 2006 at Administrative Staff College, Guwahati.

Publications:

Dr. S.K. Saikia

Ø            About 20 articles on industrial development, tourism development, rural industries, entrepreneurship development etc were published in various newspapers and journals. Also participated in a few T.V. and AIR talks.

Shri P. Sarma

Ø            Published an article “Mission Entrepreneurship” in the “Horizon”, the Saturday supplement of The Assam Tribune on 08-07-2006. Also participated in a few T.V. talks on entrepreneurship.

Shri J.C. Kalita

Ø            Published a book titled “Self-Employment through Entrepreneurship”

Ø            Published 4 articles on entrepreneurship development in various newspapers and journals.

LIBRARY AND DOCUMENTATION

As on 31^st March 2007 the Library had 13,620 books.  It has been receiving 128 periodicals regularly. During the year the Library and Documentation Division purchased 169 books and renewed subscription to 52 Journals and one Web site and added 192 Bound Volumes of Journals. It has also collected a number of Reports, Seminar Papers and Project Profiles.

The Documentation Section provided documentation services to 2340 users during the year as against 2044 users in 2005-2006. 14 researchers subscribed to its library membership during the year.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (ITC)

The Centre is primarily supporting the Institute’s activities of “In-house Management Information Systems”, “Data Processing and Analysis”, “Network Communication” and conducting training programmes on Information Technology.

For meeting the requirements of training programmes, data processing and analysis, software development and network communication the Centre is equipped with state of the art technology, hardwares and softwares.  The ITC has two numbers of servers, 50 numbers of PCs in a LAN environment and software packages related to RDBMS, Network and Office automation.

Besides, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has authorized ITC to conduct practical classes of BCA/MCA course of IGNOU.

ADMINISTRATION & MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTE :

IIE is managed by an Executive Committee and Board of Management (BoM) and a Society appointed by the Government of India.  The President of the Institute is the Chairman of North Eastern Council. Secretary, SSI&ARI, Government of India, is the Chairman of the BoM and EC. The list of the Members of the Society and BoM & EC is given in Annexure- II.

The Director of the Institute manages the day-to-day activities of the Institute.  The Director is assisted by 3 Faculty Members, 3 Associate Faculty Members, 1 Administrative Officer, 1 Documentation Officer, 4 Research Associates, 1 Assistant Programmer and 26 other support staff.

IMPORTANT MEETINGS:

General Body Meeting:

The Twelfth Meeting of the General Body of the Institute was held on 23^rd September, 2006 at Conference Room of North Eastern Council, Shillong. Shri P.R. Kyndiah, Honourable Minister of Tribal Affairs & Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India and Chairman, NEC, presided over the Meeting.

An Extra Ordinary General Body Meeting was also held on 9^th March 2007 at Board Room of the Institute. Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Honourable Minister of Panchayatraj, Sports and Youth Welfare and Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India and Chairman, NEC, presided over the Meeting.

Meeting of the Board of Management:

The Twenty Second Meeting of Board of Management of IIE was held on 23^rd September, 2006 at Conference Room of North Eastern Council, Shillong, under the Chairmanship of Shri H. V. Lalringa, Secretary, NEC.

Executive Committee Meeting:

The Tenth Meeting of the Executive Committee of IIE was held on 27^th April, 2006 at IIE Board Room and the Eleventh and Twelfth meetings were held on 1^st September and 4^th December 2006 respectively at Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi, under the Chairmanship of Shri Anupam Dasgupta, Secretary, SSI&ARI, Government of India.

STAFF:

The total staff strength of the Institute as on 31^st March, 2007 was 39.  These include 11academic and 28 non-academic staff.  The academic staff includes 1 Director, 3 Faculty Members, 3 Associate Faculty Members, 4 Research Associates and 1 Assistant Programmer. The non-academic staff includes 1 Administrative Officer, 1 Documentation Officer, 1 Superintendent, 1 Stenographer Selection Grade, 1 Accountant, 1 Senior Administrative Assistant, 4 Administrative Assistants, 1 Casiier, 1 Jr. Stenographer, 1 Jr. Administrative Assistants, 1 Assistant Librarian, 1 Library Assistant, 2 Drivers, 1 A.V.Assistant, 1 Cook, 1 Operator, 7 Helpers.

RECRUITMENT/PROMOTION/RESIGNATION/RETIREMENT :

During the year, Shri B. Das, Shri J.C. Kalita and Shri A.S.S. Dewan, Research Associates and Shri R. Basumatary, Driver, were promoted under ACP Scheme. Shri D.N. Kalita and Shri A.R. Das were promoted to Library Assistant and Operator respectively. Shri G. Dutta, Faculty Member, resigned from the service of IIE.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The Institute has now five air-conditioned Seminar Halls, and centrally air-conditioned 200 persons capacity Auditorium, and an Information Technology Centre, a Hostel with 62 fully furnished room including 15 air-conditioned rooms, 24 staff quarters and a quarter for the Director of the Institute inside the campus and 12 flats in a central locality of the City outside the campus.