BIMTECH hosts rural immersion programme 2025; 534 students collaborate on rural development in 16 villages

NEW DELHI: Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) hosted the “Rural Immersion Program 2025 – Reflection Day”, bringing together students, faculty, industry representatives, government officials, and rural women. As part of the programme, BIMTECH facilitated visits to 16 villages in collaboration with U-Turn4Nature, an NGO working in rural development, women’s empowerment, and eco-friendly practices.

A total of 534 students, including international students, participated in the initiative to understand rural life and its challenges. Three student teams were recognised for their contributions in overcoming challenges and developing innovative, community-driven solutions for rural development.

The first award was presented to Samauddinpur Group 9, followed by the second award to Kalonda Group 1, and the third award to Beel Akbarpur Group 13. “The immersion program bridged the gap between academia, grassroots realities, and socio-economic conditions, as well as empowered students to become socially responsible leaders,” the press release said.

Key focus areas of the immersion programme

The event was attended by district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar Manish Kumar Verma and income tax commissioner Sita Srivastava, along with industry leaders from human resources and corporate social responsibility domains. Forty rural women from various villages, accompanied by the U-Turn4Nature team, were also present.

During the tour, students focused on various critical aspects of rural lives through themes such as “Health and Nutrition”, “Education”, “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)”, “Agriculture and Livestock”, and “Livelihood and Entrepreneurship”. Identifying challenges in these key areas enabled the exploration of potential interventions for sustainable rural development.

Also read GUJCET 2025 hall ticket out at gujcet.gseb.org; exam on March 23

BIMTECH director highlights programme’s impact

The students' findings and recommendations will be shared with NGOs and policy experts and presented at academic and industry forums. The insights will also be used for research and curriculum development. “A reflection session is also scheduled with the village leaders, including the Sarpanch, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, women representatives, and others,” the official press release said.

Expressing her delight at this significant step, Prabina Rajib, director of BIMTECH, shared, “Building on the success of previous editions, we’re truly excited to present our current batch with this unique opportunity. Over the years, our programme has successfully facilitated actionable recommendations, strengthened collaborations with rural development organizations, and positive community engagement. The programme aligns with the institute’s commitment to holistic education, blending academics with real-world applications.”