On 25th November 2023, the second-year students of Xavier Business School, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata hosted a captivating Business Fair as a part of their curriculum. Former Union Minister of Finance and Home Affairs, Shri P. Chidambaram, graced the fair with his presence. The students were divided into groups and they had to showcase various unorganised sectors ranging from tea stalls, street food, juice vendors, flower vendors etc. Students were evaluated by two externals from IIFT Kolkata.
The event began with Shri P. Chidambaram delivering insights about the street’s vendors of India and how they form an integral part of India. This unique initiative aimed to foster experiential learning and provide a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the unorganized business landscape. The students curated an impressive line-up of unorganized sector vendors, representing a spectrum of industries and by actively participating in the fair, the students not only gained invaluable real-world experience but also contributed to the empowerment of the showcased vendors. The objective of the business fair was to understand how much revenue various unorganised sectors generate, which does not form a part of India’s GDP. Also, the students aimed to identify the various problems faced by these vendors along with potential solutions.
The Business Fair organized by the students of XBS not only celebrated the resilience of unorganized sector vendors but also showcased the capabilities of the students themselves as they actively participated in the exhibition. This innovative approach to experiential learning underscored the importance of bridging the gap between academia and the business world.