Jammu, July 28: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Jammu Region Chapter, and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu discussed potential initiatives to provide ground-level exposure and practical learning opportunities to management students.According to a statement issued here, the discussions took place during the ‘Bandhan’ programme organised by IIM Jammu, which was attended by Director IIM Jammu Prof. S.M. Sahai, Lt. Gen. Rakesh Sharma, Padma Shri S.P. Verma, Maj. Gen. Kapoor, Retd. Director Tourism Saujanya Sharma,Jitender Udhampuri,Alka Sharma and several other dignitaries.Speaking on the occasion, Rakesh Wazir, Chair PHDCCI Jammu Region Chapter, congratulated Prof. Sahai for his deep involvement in the planning and development of IIM Jammu, which he said has emerged as one of the finest IIMs in India in terms of architecture, landscaping, infrastructure, and academic environment.He acknowledged the global impact of IIM graduates, stating, “Top companies worldwide, have IIM alumni in leadership roles, which highlights the institutes’ pivotal role in shaping management excellence and contributing to India’s growth.”Referring to the ‘Bandhan’ programme, Wazir praised the initiative under which management students would interact with local families of Jammu to understand their culture, traditions, cuisine, and lifestyle, thereby fostering cultural exchange and practical learning.He suggested that the Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra, which he heads, could arrange study tours to hotels, restaurants, and food courts in Katra to give students a deeper understanding of hospitality and tourism-related businesses.Wazir further proposed that PHDCCI and IIM Jammu could explore creating a policy framework to invite leading industrialists from across India to deliver guest lectures, enhancing students’ industry exposure.In his address, Prof. Sahai welcomed the suggestions and thanked PHDCCI for its valuable inputs. He said that joint efforts would continue to identify and implement collaborative initiatives in the future, ensuring that IIM Jammu students receive well-rounded, ground-level exposure along with academic excellence.
