A clean sweep

By Saachi Singh
In 2010, an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Cell (IEDC) was started in Acharya Narendra Dev College by the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board, department of science and technology, government of India. It came into being not just because students needed jobs but to create them. Fondly called the Entrepreneurship Lab, it helps students learn how to run a company, select raw material, package a product, design its labels and finally, market it, while keeping in mind the social impact of their actions.
Acharya Narendra Dev Youth, or ANDY, is a small organisation of 22 undergraduates working under the guidance of an official, Sanjay Vohra, who helps students mould their ideas into something profitable. Started on October 4, 2013, ANDY is a fully functioning, profit-making company. It consists of a core committee of six students and four teachers, thereby giving the students the final decision-making power, and making them responsible for their actions and its impact on the company. Started with the help of a Rs 30,000 loan from the college -now paid back -its current profit of Rs 10,000 is being ploughed back into the organisation for product development and to increase product variety.
This eclectic group comprises students from different backgrounds and courses. While I am from BCom (hons), Aishwarya Munjal, another BCom (hons) student, handles the shares. Kashish Madan from zoology takes care of designing; Sameer Goel, from BCom, is in-charge of finance and book-keeping; Akshat Chadha from electronics helps in overall co-ordination; Aurobindo Sengupta, a student of zo ology, helps with photography and Parul Gulati, a commerce student, takes care of corporate orders.
They are learning how to successfully run a company while trying to make a difference to the society.
The products, ranging from sanitisers and handmade glycerine soaps to herbal shampoos, were decided upon after much deliberation. What makes these products different from others is their cost.
Take the sanitiser. Priced at Rs 35, a 50ml bottle is half the price of the competition in the market.
The aim is to not only make these available to college students, but with time at even lower prices, to labourers. Labourers are often forced to make do with dirty water, or no water, thus increasing the chances of infection among them at mealtime.
Our sanitiser will come into play here. This is an easily remediable situation, about which students feel strongly.
With a current average sale of 1,000 soaps, 600 sanitisers and 400 hand washes in just two months and new orders coming in every day, we are on our way to building a solid organisation. Currently, the products are sold at the college stationery shop, but as soon as we register ourselves as a producer company, they will be supplied to various tier-two cities.
ANDY is now bringing out spiralbound registers made by the underprivileged, who will be trained by our volunteers. Also in the pipeline are products like an anti-fungal and a mosquito-repellent soap.
These will have far-reaching consequences, especially for those forced to sleep under the sky. We firmly believe that if there is something we can do to improve a situation, we must.
Having received much acclaim in various competitions, like the Indo-Korea meet in Bangalore in January, a workshop at an institute in Delhi, and more recently at the India-Iran Innovation and Technology transfer camp in Delhi, ANDY is all set to begin recruiting new members. We also hope to replicate this Entrepreneurship Lab model in other colleges all over India.
As a part of the Entrepreneurship Lab, we have learnt what it means to run a company, to face competition, to be discouraged, but to never lose hope.
In just a couple of months one realises that a textbook never tells you what the real deal is like. For me, as a student, this has been the experience of a lifetime. Whatever knowledge I have gained will always put me a cut above the rest. The most important lesson I have learnt is that all I need is an idea, and the determination to see it through. The rest will work itself out.
ANDY is the first campus company in the University of Delhi launched in October 2013
A LOOK AT SOME INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS FOR STUDENTS
Q SCIENCE FAIR
THE INTEL INTERNATIONAL
Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is an annual pre-college science competition. This programme of the So ciety for Science & the Public (SSP) is a platform for more than 1,700 high school students from more than 70 countries, regions, and territories to showcase their independent research and compete for more than $5 million in awards. Millions of students worldwide compete in local and school-sponsored science fairs each year. The winners of these events then participate in SSP-affiliated regional and state fairs from which the best win the opportunity to attend ISEF. The fair is hosted annually in a different city (Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Phoenix through 2019). All sciences (physical, life and social) are represented. Details at student.societyforscience.org/node/2361 Eligibility: The requirements are: Each Intel ISEF-affiliated fair can send up to the number of projects authorised by its affiliation agreement A student must be selected by an Intel ISEF-affiliated fair, and be in class IX-XII or equivalent. S/he should not have reached age 20 on or before May 1 preceding the global event. For details, visit https://student.societyforscience.org/intel-isef Prize: There are several awards for students as well as for their schools.
Among these, the Gordon E Moore Award is the “best of the best“ honour with a $75,000 prize for the top bestof-category winner.
Q INNOVATION CONTEST
THIS INNOVATION CHALLENGE, organised by Henkel, is an in ternational contest offering students an opportunity to turn theoretical knowledge into a business application, working with company managers Eligibility: The entry requirements include: Students of all fields of studies en rolled in a university, college or equivalent in participating countries Young professionals who graduated not more than six months before reg istration. For details, visit http://www.henkelchallenge.com Prize: The winning team at the global final is awarded an around-the world ticket worth 10,000 euros; the second, a travel voucher worth 4,000 euros and the third, a travel voucher worth 2,000 euros
Q BRANDSTORM
L'OREAL BRANDSTORM, AN in ternational game organised by L'Oreal SA, lets students take the role of an international marketing hub di rector in the beauty products industry.
Eligibility: Only students attending a Brandstorm partner university and/or school in a participating country can participate in the standard cycle of the game. The game is for undergradu ates interested in marketing. For more, visit brandstorm.loreal.com Prize: International finals -There is a best communication campaign prize and a people's choice award (tro phies). The first prize carries a maxi mum contribution of 10,000 euros for the team for a trip. The second prize carries a maximum contribution of 5,000 euros for the team for a trip and the third, 2,500 euros.
Q IDEAS 360
SHELL IDEAS360 is a global in novation competition organ ised by Shell International Ltd for students to create solutions for ener gy, water and food issues.
Eligibility: Participation in the 2013 14 competition was open to any per son studying as a full-time under graduate or postgraduate at a recog nised, degree-awarding university or other equivalent higher education establishment.
Prize: The winner of the competition receives the grand prize of a Nation al Geographic expedition. There are other prizes, too. The best ideas (whether or not they are selected for the final) will be considered for funding by the Shell GameChanger programme. For further information, visit http://www.shellideas360.com
Q FLY YOUR IDEAS
THE AIRBUS FLY Your Ideas challenges students across the globe to develop new ideas for an eco-efficient aviation industry of the future. Previous editions of the beinnial competition drew more than 11,000 students from about 100 countries. Its 2015 edition opened for registration in June 2014 and proposals can be submitted beginning this September.
Eligibility: All college and university students from around the world are eligible to apply in teams of three (minimum) to five (maximum) Prize: The winning team bags 30,000 euros following the final presentations to a jury. The runners up receive 15,000 euros. For details, visit http://www.airbus-fyi.com *Indicative information