Face to Face with Dr. MH Ansari (Prof & Head Rural Management)

Transcript of the interview with Dr. M.H. Ansari (Professor & Head of Department, Rural Management) XISS Ranchi. the Interview was conducted by Ms. Snehana Naomi Bose (PGD-HRM, 1st Year) and Mr. Priyanjan Kumar (PGD-Marketing 1st Year). The student media team - Obscura - managed the entire editing & recording 

Question: Sir, could you please tell us something about your educational background, the courses you teach at XISS, and how has your experience been so far? 

Answer: Thank you so much for the question. I completed my post-graduation cour

se in Social Service with a specialization in Personnel Management in 1978. I joined XISS as a project officer in 1979 and was offered the task of community development and social service. I was in the field for 4 years and was involved in developmental intervention of the Kanke Block. In 1985, I completed my Masters in Commerce from Ranchi University and in 1988, my Masters in Business Administration with specialization in Marketing Management from the Institute of Business Education, Kolkata. I also completed my LLB from Ranchi University in 1992 and obtained a Diploma in Mass Communication from Chennai. Thereafter I completed my PhD in agricultural financing.

Initially I started teaching communication skills in XISS but of late I have taken an interest in teaching communication for development, non-formal education, soft skills and personality grooming, training for development, rural entrepreneurship and financial accounting. Earlier I used to teach the Human Resource Management students subjects like Financial Accounting and Financial Management. But unfortunately after 2003, I could not continue teaching the HRM department due to my growing responsibilities in the RM department. 

As regards my experience here at XISS, I fondly remember my initial days here at the Institute and ever since I have always endeavored to contribute the maximum I can and nurture students of Rural Management as they ultimately develop the cyclic process of helping others. 

Question: What changes have you seen is XISS in all your years of teaching here? 

Answer: Change is the law of life. The same applies to XISS as well. The change is not only in terms of infrastructure, the number of storeys added to the building or the like. The change is in terms of its mission and vision, increasing the number of courses by adding courses like IT, Marketing and Finance, tapping into the changes in the country and the masses and accordingly tried to tailor its services in terms of the changing needs of the society, and has also undertaken social service programs like ‘outreach programs’. The Institute works for the downtrodden sections of the society, engages in research and planning, publications and works for the upliftment of the NGO’s. In this way, change has been occurring in XISS on a daily basis. 

Question: Sir, what is your opinion about Corporate Social Responsibility? Do you think the 2% cutoff is a sufficient amount for large companies that earn large profits? 

Answer: It is important to understand the terminology of CSR. Does it mean that the company has a responsibility to the society or does it mean that the company has an accountability towards their employees and their families? CSR should be redefined in terms of an accountability towards the society and its upliftment.

The question isn’t about the 2% cutoff. The real question lies in the fact that how judiciously and in a planned way the 2% is being utilized by companies for the improvement of the society rather than just increasing the percentage. There has to be seriousness among the companies to improve the quality of life of the downtrodden sections of the society and use this money in programs like "Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan", skill promotion or other developmental programs. 

Question: Students from the RM department recently visited the University of Antwerp on an exchange program. Can you please elaborate how are students are benefitting from such visits and what innovative things are they learning?

Answer: These Summer Exchange Programs give students a platform to learn from people of diverse backgrounds from across the globe. Therefore, they are able to understand and learn from inter-country interactions, and cultural learning. This broadens the outlook and mental horizon of the students and they are able to view the development issue from a global perspective and not just an Indian perspective. 

Question: Sir, what are your views about MGNREGA? How will it benefit women and unskilled workers?

Answer: MNREGA was originally known as NREGA and it was an outcome of an Act in 2005. Surprisingly, MNREGA is the only program in the world which has come into existence due to an Act by the Government of India to provide wage employment to people of the country who are jobless or those who do not have any scope of employment to meet their family needs. 

In spite of the planning of the program being top-notch, at the stage of implementation there are some problems. Proper inductions and training need to be provided so that one understands the policies, programs and objectives of MGNREGA and who actually are the beneficiaries who are covered under this program.  In our country, women suffer greatly due to education, health and wage employment and through this program the Government not only improves the overall economic condition of the family, but also empowers women for a better cause of tomorrow.