Gujarat government, Indian Institute of Management- Ahmedabad tie-up for growth

It's official now. The Indian Institute of Management- Ahmedabad (IIMA) and the Gujarat government have joined hands to further accelerate the state's growth. And the state government has proposed setting up of a core committee comprising IIMA officials and alumni, representative from industry, and principal secretaries of different government departments for this purpose.

Apart from this, 6 working groups, also comprising government officials and IIMA alumni, will jointly work in six areas - coastal development and ports, medical services, urban development, finance, tourism and educational services.

The proposal for the core committee and the six groups were made on Monday at IIMA where around 300 alumni, who had come for their alma mater's golden jubilee celebrations, were shown presentations on Gujarat's growth and Vibrant Gujarat summits.

The presentations were made by principal secretary, industries and mines, Maheshwar Sahu.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was also present on the occasion and interacted with the visiting alumni. It was the first time that the IIMA alumni were interacting with the chief minister who was visiting the institute for its golden jubilee celebrations.

The alumni were seen applauding Modi every time he made a telling remark, whether it was a humorous comment on Pakistan, or his explanation of the steps taken by the Gujarat government to improve primary education and bring down the drop-out rate in schools.

The chief minister's explanation of Gujarat's initiatives in renewable energy, and steps to tackle climate change drew special applause. The event also provided the alumni an opportunity to ask Modi questions.

"I look at IIMA from a different point of view," Modi said. "Every city has a rich history but Ahmedabad is unique in that it was developed by majur mahajan. But IIMA was founded 50 years ago and it has made an immense contribution to giving Ahmedabad a global reputation. It has also contributed in Gujarat's growth story." 

The function was held amid tight security which converted the otherwise serene and quite IIMA campus into a fortress. Among the dignitaries present at the function were NDDB chairperson Amrita Patel, Prafull Anubhai, IIMA chairman Dr Vijaypat Singhania, IIMA director Samir Barua, Prof Atanu Ghosh and Amal Dhru.