B-school tryst to battle HIV

January 10, 2007

B-school tryst to battle HIV- Undp & XIM-B launch first-of-its-kind

course

PRIYA ABRAHAM

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 8: For the next six weeks, Diksha Chaudhury (name

changed), an HIV-positive, will dabble with laptops, rub shoulders

with management gurus and have a go at some of the mind games that

are played on the lush greens of the Xaviers Institute of Management

in Bhubaneswar.

In the process, Diksha, along with 24 others like her, will script a

first in the country comprising the first ever batch of management

programme meant exclusively for HIV-infected people.

XIM-B, in association with the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP), today launched a first-of-its-kind certificate programme in

leadership and managerial proficiency for HIV-affected people. As

many as 25 people living with HIV (PLHIV) will now experience a whiff

of fresh air attending lectures and jotting down notes, just like any

other XIMBian.

Launching the programme today, XIM-B director E. Abraham said: " We

hope that our efforts are followed by other management schools. " The

six-week programme will comprise four weeks of classroom learning and

two weeks of field activity. The programme is residential and will be

held at the Management Development Centre of the institute.

The course has been designed at two levels. The first level is for

leaders and aspirants at the state and national level. The second

level is for leaders at the state and district levels. Four batches,

comprising 25 students each, have been planned. The first batch, is

already in and will begin their classes from tomorrow. " The admission

criteria was the simplest. The applicant must be a PLHIV and must

have a working knowledge in English, " said S. Peppin, chief project

coordinator, XIM-B.

The course will constitute a host of managerial subjects, including

computing, project management, crisis management, HRD management,

advocacy, and business planning. Special features like internships

for organisational learning and educational trips will also be a part

of the package.

Funding for the entire programme, including boarding and lodging,

will be borne by both UNDP and XIM-B.

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