1

UDYOG ACTIVITIES

At Centre For Studies In Rural Management,

Gujarat Vidyapith, Randheja.

Gandhiji always favoured the education based on personal life experiences. Gujarat Vidyapith has

still continued implementing successfully the thought of Gandhi by introducing ‘Udyog activities’

as an integral part of the curriculum.

Udyog is ઉત ્ + યોગ – Higher Yoga. Yog-Sadhana is very necessary for stability, health, peace and

power of mind, body and soul. Udyog should not be considered as mere hard physical labour.

Udyog should be integrated and introduced in education as an inevitable aid or medium of

education-process. It is very true in all the disciplines of life. Being free from mere bookish

knowledge, a student should resort to manual work and practical experience. Gandhiji put emphasis

on vocational and functional education. “Earning while learning” was the motto of this education.

This increases the creativity in a student. As Gandhi wanted to make Indian village’s self-sufficient

units, he emphasised that vocational education should increase the efficiency within the students

who will make the village as self-sufficient units.In other words, Gandhi’s educational philosophy

was born out of his intense need to better the condition of rural India.

Udyog is not a subject to be thrust upon the students; it is related to life till death. Mahatma Gandhi

observed that the so called literate class of people became idle instead of becoming industrious.

This means that education makes man dead instead of living. It was found necessary to reestablish

the value of Udyog in education. Gandhiji gave Udyog that much importance as one Jeevan

Rasayan or Medium of Education. According to Mahatama Gandhi, "The principal idea is to impart

the whole education of the body, mind and soul through the handicraft that is taught to the

children.”

Gujarat Vidyapith is based on the principles of Basic Education (Buniyadi Shikshan or Nai Talim).

Hence, Udyog is considered as a foundation of education. According to Gandhiji, education brings

out the talents hidden in the body, heart and soul of the students. Education teaches the true art of

living. It includes acquiring entrepreneurial skills, maturity of thoughts and treasure of virtues.

Udyog make the students capable to understand the value of labour and to be economically free.

Udyog can help the students in developing confident and self-reliant personality.

2

At Centre for Studies in Rural Management, the task of life skill development in students is being

done very effectively through various Udyog activities. Each and every student as well as teacher

takes part in such activities with great enthusiasm, spirit, concentration and devotion. The period of

one hour is appropriated to such Udyog daily. All the students are assigned various Udyog activities

such as agriculture, handicraft, spinning, soap making, campus development, computer

maintenance and repairing, etc.

Handicraft

Handicraft represents the cultural heritage of our nation. Hence, students naturally take part

enthusiastically in such activities. The students plan the designs and targets to be accomplished in

certain time period. They have a very good experience of designing the product, production,

marketing & selling, basic accounting and working in a team as if they are running a micro

enterprise. At the convocation ceremony of Gujarat Vidyapith, these teams are given opportunity to

exhibit and sell their products and to earn profit from the same. It becomes really a challenging

opportunity and thrilling experience for the students them to plan and prepare themselves for such

selling ground. For fixing the prices of the products, generally cost plus pricing method and

penetration pricing policy is adopted. However, on-going price prevailing in the current market is

also kept in mind. Students learn attaching price tag and labels, package design, personal selling,

communication, demonstration, etc. Sometimes special discount is offered to the customers

depending on the quantity purchased.

Sale of Products (in Rs.)

2012 2013 2014

No Products Sale In

Rs.

No Products Sale In

Rs.

No Products Sale In

Rs.

1 Paper Bracelet 498 1 Bracelate Wire 270 1 Toran 600

2 Rubber Bracelet 435 2 Bracelate Rubber 252 2 Necklace 20

3 Friendship Bands 114 3 Friendship Band 343 3 Mobile Covers 640

4 Pen Pouch 60 4 Pen Pouch 420 4 Pen Pouch (Small) 730

5 Hand Bags 1470 5 Hand Bags 1700 5 Pen Pouch (Big) 2750

6 Earrings 246 6 Torans 1210 6 Khadi Bags 7680

7 Flower Vase 730 7 Ear Rings 360 7 Dusters 1560

8 Neck Lace (Mala) 510 8 Handkerchiefs 880

9 Mobile Covers 440 9 Salwars 500

10 Zula 480 10 Spinned Cotton Anties 1400

11 Decorative Covers 30

12 Bags Sold To London 3060

Total 3553 Total 5985 Total 19850

3

Cost Of Goods Sold (Rs.)

YEAR 2012 2013 2014

Opening Balance 313 405 983

Add: Purchase 1967 2717 10386

2280 3122 11369

Less: Closing Stock 405 983 1790

Cost Of Goods Sold 1875 2139 9579

Gross Profit (Rs.)

Total Sale 3553 5985 19850

Cost Of Goods Sold 1875 2139 9579

Gross Profit 1678 3846 10271

Computer Maintenance, Repairing and Networking:

The students engaged in this Udyog activity do the following work.

Making identity cards for staff and students

Attending calls for computer hardware and networking

Maintenance of computer labs of college and hostel

Repairing of Wi-Fi device and network configuration

Year 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Production of Identity Cards (In No) 590 126 122

Profit (In Rs.) 11,000 2,600 2,380

Agriculture and Kitchen Garden:

Through organic farming, students produce vegetables and use the same in kitchen mess. Students

make compost fertilizer utilizing wastage and garbage in the campus. Some details of production

are as follows:

Year 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014

Production (In Kgs) 750 810 790 708 879

Consumption (In Kgs.) 485 556 602 505 654

Selling (Rs. ) 700 935 1010 1235 1575

Soap Making

4

As a part of Udyog Activities, students make soap with cold process. Here, Mogra, Shikakai,

Ambala, etc. Flavours are made as per demand.

Year 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014

Production (In Units) 120 72 72 72 -

Selling (Rs. ) 1200 720 864 864 -

Campus Development:

Various campus development activities like gardening, compost, fencing, decoration, plumbing,

carpentry, regular maintenance, etc. are done by the students of this group. Students have developed

Aushadh Baug in the campus. Various Medicinal plants such as green tea, Nagod, Savan, Ardushi,

Anjir, Ashvagandh, etc have been cultivated.

Spinning:

Spinning is the core Udyog of Gujarat Vidyapith since the inception.

Year 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Production (In Kgs) 28.300 31.500 35.300 33.000 36.100 20.000 60.000

Income (Rs. ) 8,462.00 9610.00 11,365.00 10250.00 11,980.00 6,880.00 21,000.00

Other Activities:

Besides above activities, student have been involved in various other activities occasionally. As per

the interest of the students, requirement of time and circumstances, there is scope of flexibility of

activities. Thus, students were involved in the following activities too.

Pickle making

Snacks making

Amla processing

Carpentry work

Electrification and plumbing work , etc.

It is observed that the following topics of management studies can be well correlated with the

Udyog activities.

Production Planning and Targeting

Lay Out of Unit, Managing Mass Production

Standardization and Quality Control

Division of Labour, Time Study, Motion Study, etc.

Test Marketing Experience

5

New Product Development Process

Pricing Methods and Policies

Selling Strategies, Personal Selling Experience and Salesman Ship

Branding, Labeling, Marking, Packaging and Packing

Advertising & Publicity Methods and Effectiveness

Applying Sales Promotion Tools such as Offering Discount, etc.

Consumer Behavior and Purchase Decisions

Communication and Human Psychology

Maintaining Stock Register and Calculation of Stock

Methods of Price Determination

Basic Accounting and Record Keeping, etc.

The above practical knowledge is very much essential to be developed in management students, as

they are going to be future entrepreneurs of our nation. Besides, the following life skills have also

be developed in students.

Team Management and Cohesiveness

Work Involvement and Sense of Cooperation

Creative & Logical Thinking and Practicability

Thrift, Honesty and Devotion towards Work and Life

Time Management and Value of Time

Self Confidence and Decision Making Power

Ability of Taking Initiatives and Bearing Risk

Communication Skill and Art Of Expressing Self

Enthusiasm and Discipline

Concentration and Will Power

Quality Consciousness

.***************