Imran Chowdhary, Abdul Qadir and Amir Khan, all Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) students of Akbar Peerbhoy College at Shaukat Ali Road, are busy these days packaging their ‘branded’ chicken to be delivered to their customers’ homes at no extra cost.
Their business venture — ‘Dial-a-Chicken’, has become a huge hit within four days of its launch. “The price of chicken in the market is Rs110. Butchers give us a margin of Rs15 and we deliver the poultry in a hygienic manner which our customers appreciate. Our profit is Rs3 per kg, but there is a vast demand in our area and we will earn a good profit in the future,” Chowdhary told DNA.
Amin Menon, a second-year Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) student of the same college had another unique idea — customised greeting cards for your loved ones. And her classmate, Itra Usmani has sold 10kg of handmade chocolates.
Not surprisingly, none of these students want to be stuck in a 9-to-5 job.
It’s not just IITs and B-schools that are nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in their students. Professors of various city colleges are mentoring their students to set up small businesses that don’t require much capital and can help them support themselves financially. Prof Hanif Lakdawala of Akbar Peerbhoy College said, “Most of our students come from a poor background. It’s good if they start earning before leaving college, rather than running for jobs from pillar to post.”
Some teenagers who are setting upbusinesses are also exhibiting a sense of social responsibility. For example, Nisha Punjabi, a third-year BMS student of HR College, wishes to sell bananas and banana-based products globally through a business model which will benefit the state’s banana farmers.
Punjabi has already completed her groundwork by visiting the Khadi Village Industries Commission, government offices and banana farms across Maharashtra and Chennai. She said, “We produce a huge quantity of banana crop but the plant’s stem is discarded. The stem fibres can be used to make clothes, bags and currency. I myself have zeroed in on bags.” With the help of the NGO Pragati Prathishthan of Javhar taluka in Thane, Punjabi has identified the farmers, vendors and procured machines as well.
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