The SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) is one of the premier management institutions in India. One of the many reasons for their consistently high rankings has been their ability to evolve in tandem with the dynamic business environment and produce well rounded, future-ready managers. As the current business discourse centres on ESG and sustainability, the institute is already aligning its efforts in that direction. SPJIMR is active on these fronts, not only as an educational institution, but also as a socially responsible organisation.
In this interview with The CSR Universe, Ms. Daya Sajnani, Director, HR and Administration- Bhavan’s SPJIMR discusses the recent Waste Management Project undertaken by the institute. She gives a candid account of deliverables, timelines and expected outcomes which would give the readers an idea about the extent of planning and management that go into the conceptualisation and implemetation of any social project.
Mr. Prabhat Pani, Executive Director, Centre for Innovation and Sustainable Develeopment, Bhavan's SPJIMR takes us through the institute’s endeavours towards incorporating sustainability on an academic and research front. He also delves into some of the courses they have designed to give their students an immersive experience of the socio-economic realities and environmental issues.
Read the full interview here:
Q. SPJIMR’s recently launched waste management project has very clear targets (e.g. management of 450 kg of bio-waste, generation of 30 tonnes compost, etc.). How did you arrive at these targets and what is the period within which they are expected to be achieved?
Daya Sajnani: SPJIMR, RUR Greenlife and Ekonnect conducted a scientific, qualitative and quantitative waste audit on campus and studied the various waste streams at different sources around campus like bistro, canteen and other areas. A waste audit report was prepared and we estimated the average per day wet kitchen biodegradable waste to be 120-150 kg per day. We will also be adding horticultural dry leaves into the RUR Greengold Aerobic BioComposters. This would work out to an average of 43 tonnes of wet waste which will be composted to produce nutrient rich compost of 3.5 tonnes of compost annually. During composting the organic matter breaks down and we get around 15-20% input as compost. Through this process of composting kitchen waste, we will help reduce waste being transported to landfills, reduce global warming, remediate soil and work towards food security. This project aligns with UNSDGs and Swacch Bharat Mission goals.
We will also be setting up dry waste bins and conducting awareness workshops to raise awareness on segregation at source and ensure dry waste like paper, plastics, metal, Tetra Pak cartons, E waste are channelised for safe and efficient recycling.
Q. The institute has signed an MoU with Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation and RUR GreenLife Pvt. Ltd. for this project. What are the broad deliverables for these organisations?
Daya Sajnani: Through the project Wise with Waste, Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation (Ekonnect) and RUR Greenlife Pvt Ltd (RUR) have partnered to provide simple and effective infrastructure for proper collection, aerobic composting and dry waste linkages to beneficiaries to maximise waste management at source in Mumbai. This project is sponsored through the CSR of HT Parekh foundation.
RUR Greenlife's role is to design, implement the project by setting up our aerobic biomposters, dry waste infrastructure and conduct awareness sessions to ensure maximum recycling of waste at SPJIMR. Ekonnect provides support and monitoring of the project to ensure we achieve the set goals. Broad deliverables of RUR and EKconnect are:
- RUR and Ekonnect will conduct a waste audit/ inventorization to collect the following data:
- Categories of waste generated
- Quantity of waste generated for each category – per day/per month/per year (quantities for per month and per year will be extrapolated based on the collected data for per day waste
- Map out existing waste flows/ supply chain
- Level of segregation
- Ekonnect and RUR will provide RUR’s Green Gold Aerobic Biocomposter (RGGC) composters to handle 100-150 kg/day. Four bins will be provided to handle the dry waste generated
- Installation and commissioning of the equipment at the SPJIMR location will be done by RUR
- RUR will provide handholding installation of Bio composting system
- RUR and Ekonnect will place collateral posters on the program and segregation guidelines in the premise' s of SPJIMR
- Campaigning and connecting with compost buyers and recyclers for separate collection of dry waste
- Periodic monitoring of compost.
- RUR and Ekonnect will conduct a total of two awareness/ sensitization programs for SPJIMR. These programs will include:
- Conducting training on segregation of waste at source for concerned staff responsible for managing waste activities
- On the job practical training to compost the waste to staff and waste pickers
- Conducting training programs on composting, manure making, and job training for SPJIMR members
Q. What would be the role of SPJIMR in this project?
Daya Sajnani: SPJIMR would be covering the following aspects:
- It will identify and provide adequate space for composting system set-up, secondary sorting of waste and dry waste storage within its premises
- It will procure statutory license(s), approval(s), permission(s) jointly along with RUR from the statutory authorities for implementing the project on the project land space from time to time
- The shed and the floor of the project land will be prepared by SPJIMR before the deliveries of the composting machines and the bins
- A dedicated water source will be identified and provided by SPJIMR for the use of composters
- Any expenditure that may occur after the project implementation is to be borne solely by SPJIMR
- Provision of 100-150kgs of organic waste per day
- Gathering daily data of waste as per required guidelines and handover to RUR & Ekonnect on monthly basis
- Provision of a separate salary for the housekeeping staff to do secondary sorting of waste from households, composting process, cleanliness of the area, keeping records, harvesting the compost, storing the dry waste
- Bearing operation and maintenance cost of the system including labour and monthly consumables
- Supervising the labourers who are carrying out daily waste management activities, ensuring daily record of waste is logged and allowing RUR to collect the data of waste managed on a monthly basis
- Mandating segregation at source and ensuring high levels of sustained segregation
- SPJIMR will share the monthly operational data with RUR and Ekonnect.
Q. As an educational institution, what are the major social initiatives that SPJIMR has undertaken in the recent past?
Prabhat Pani: SPJIMR recognises that it has to discharge a huge responsibility by preparing right the set of Next-Gen Managers. This means giving them the right exposure to social and environmental issues and possible solutions, contextualised to India. While courses/experiential programs like Abhyudaya and DOCC give them an immersive learning experience of the urban and rural social realities, courses like Science of Spirituality and ‘ESG and Sustainability’ prepare them with the theoretical underpinning.
As an example, CISD (which works on the creation and dissemination of new knowledge and research that showcases sustainable development, and works towards the identification of innovative and technology driven solutions to help build a virtuous cycle of growth), has a subset of the students of the flagship 2-year PGDM program work on various issues –working on a project to identify disruptive and emergent Agriculture technologies, implementing substantial water-saving measures in the SPJIMR campus, participating in regular Mumbai Beach-cleaning efforts, initiating efforts to the make the SPJIMR campus carbon-neutral, initiating efforts to build the capacity of small/medium-sized NGOs, etc.
Q. Sustainability of businesses is becoming a focal point in the current corporate discourse. As an educator in the domain of management, how do you view sustainability?
Prabhat Pani: While sustainability focus was gaining ground in recent years, the impact of Covid-19 and the awareness of the significant effects of climate change, have made the case for sustainability even stronger. The young are certainly far more socially and environmentally conscious. Hence, given that they will soon form the majority of customers and employees, it makes eminent sense to not only guide them, but facilitate them to move to finding/providing solutions to the difficult problems. Educational institutions can and should play a significant role in channelising the consciousness and energy into experimentation and action, through exposure and encouragement.
Q. Do you think Indian organisations approach sustainability in the same way as their western counterparts do?
Prabhat Pani: Yes, and No. Given that there are many organisations in India which are either subsidiaries of international corporations, or have substantial markets abroad, their current approach to sustainability is likely to be similar to other entities in the western world.
There are many other organisations that have not had the same head start on the approach to sustainability, either in terms of their awareness of international trends or because regulations in India do not demand so. However, like in many other aspects of business, Indian organisations will get there fast, not only in terms of what is required to meet international commitments on sustainability, but quite likely by extensively using digitisation and technology, that will make the transformation easier and speedier.
Q. SPJIMR is training the future generation of business heads and entrepreneurs. How are you incorporating issues like sustainability and ESG in your curriculum?
Prabhat Pani: In recent times, the environmental dimension has been added to the long-time initiatives related to the ones to enhance social consciousness. In addition to the ‘ESG and Sustainability’ course for the 2-year full-time MBA Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) program, a course on “Introduction to SDGs” is part of the curriculum of the Post Graduate Program on Development Management (PGPDM) program, and an elective on “Business outcomes enhancement through Sustainability” is being readied for offer in the one-year MBA program of Post Graduate Program in Management (PGPM). Extension of a similar course for the flagship 2-year MBA program of (PGDM) is quite likely.
In addition to the full-fledged courses being offered to the wider constituencies, SPJIMR is also making an effort to involve the students in multiple sustainability-related issues. In recent times, SPJIMR has supplemented its earlier effort through external-facing entities like ‘Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Development (CISD)’, ‘Centre for Financial Innovation (CFI)’, and ‘Centre for Wisdom in Leadership (CWIL)’, to add a wider perspective to the offerings of classroom teachings.
Q. In the present times, corporations are expected to develop social consciousness and the social sector is expected to function with the efficacy of a business. Do you think this is a reasonable expectation and to what extent can it be achieved?
Prabhat Pani: SPJIMR certainly believes that not only is this a fair expectation, but it is actually walking the talk.
As explained earlier, SPJIMR aims to provide the right exposure to its students to social and environmental issues and possible solutions, contextualised to India. Besides the course in the curriculum, experiential programs like Abhyudaya and DOCC give them an immersive learning experience of the urban and rural social realities.
The PGPDM program is a modular one-year program that provides contextualised management inputs to social sector professionals, working in NGOs and in corporate CSR organisations. Amongst others, one of the major objectives of CISD is to focus upon to building the capability of small/medium-sized NGOs, etc., through knowledge sessions, and facilitating the provision of digital presence, volunteering, internships, etc. These go a long way in helping social sector entities become more efficient and effective.
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