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Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) successfully hosted the Rural Immersion Program 2025 bringing together students approx. 550, faculty, industry leaders, government officials, and rural women entrepreneurs (Didis). The program, organized in collaboration with U-Turn4Nature, a startup dedicated to empowering rural women entrepreneurs, provided students with invaluable real-world exposure and hands-on learning experiences.  Rural Immersion Programme for students to create shared value is the important feature of U-Turn4Nature. 

As part of the initiative, BIMTECH students visited 16 villages, engaging with local communities to understand their socio-economic realities. The immersion program served as a bridge between academia, grassroots challenges, and sustainable development efforts.

Dr. Prabina Rajib, Director of BIMTECH, emphasized the impact of the program, stating: "Building on the success of previous editions, we are truly excited to present our current batch with this unique opportunity. Over the years, our program has successfully facilitated actionable recommendations, strengthened collaborations with rural development organizations, and fostered positive community engagement. This initiative aligns with our commitment to holistic education, blending academics with real-world applications."

The students focused on critical areas impacting rural lives, including: Health & Nutrition, Education, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Agriculture & Livestock, Livelihood & Entrepreneurship.By identifying challenges in these sectors, students proposed potential interventions aimed at long-term rural development.

Abhishek Kumar, Co-founder of U-Turn4Nature praised BIMTECH’s initiative, stating:"BIMTECH's decision to provide students with firsthand rural exposure is a strategic and forward-thinking move. These students will not only become top choices for recruiters but also have the potential to emerge as innovative entrepreneurs. Other institutes should take inspiration from BIMTECH’s approach and integrate similar experiential learning strategies into their professional courses. Connecting students with rural women entrepreneurs (Didis) will create shared value for both parties."

Ms. Deepti Kishore Co-Founder of U-Turn4Nature added “U-Turn4Nature also provides Rural Immersion programme opportunity of different kind and duration as per courses for high schools and colleges. We have targeted to reach to 100 million women in next 15 Years.”  

The Reflection Day event was graced by esteemed Chief Guests: Sri Manish Kumar Verma, District Magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Smt. Sita Srivastava, Income Tax Commissioner. Additionally, Ms. Poonam Bhati, a Didi (rural woman entrepreneur), expressed, "Such activities will greatly support our livelihood program and help us grow."

The event also saw the participation of industry leaders from HR and CSR domains like Mr. Robin Sarkar, Director- Shiv Nadar Foundation, Ms. Runa Pathak-Lead CSR, Jubilant Foods, Mr. Prabhakant Jain-Head CSR DS Group, Mr. Aditya Ghildyal-President Greater Noida Industries, Mr. Sandeep Kumar- CSR Leader and others. Approx 40 rural women from 16  villages, accompanied by the U-Turn4Nature team Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Mr. Vivek Kumar, Ms. Junita Paul, Ms. Pallavi Srivastava, Ms. Sanjana Kaushik, Mr Sukhveer Yadav and others.  

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