Girl students turn entrepreneurs at Friday shandy

Mangaluru/Udupi: The Friday shandy at Byndoor market saw new young vendors as girl students of Government First Grade College, Byndoor, tried their hands at business and pledged to donate what they earned to families of martyrs of the Pulwama attack.
Coincidentally, around 200 girl students also celebrated International Women’s Day in a unique way by turning entrepreneurs on March 8. The idea of bringing students to a Friday shandy was conceptualised by Savitha S, assistant professor, who heads a women’s committee of the college. According to her, she wanted to send out a message of women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship, and to also help Pulwama victims families in a small way.

She said that students operated shops with low investments. During the shandy, they sold home-grown plantains, veg biryani, samosa, mango pachadi, sesame juice, millet juice, lime juice and other items. They sold these dishes for lower prices compared to market rates. On the occasion, students also conducted some games for customers, and the winners were given prizes. “We will donate the profits earned for the welfare of the victims of the Pulwama attack, after deducting the expenses,” said Savitha.

Earlier, students had organised a similar food mela in their campus itself, and at end of the day, various items sold by students fetched them collections to the tune of Rs 10,560. “Doing business at the Friday shandy is our second such effort, and what is earned by us will be given to brave soldiers who fight for our country against all odds at the country’s borders,” expressed a student.

Ruksana, another student, thanked the college management for the opportunity given to them. “This was a day where we learnt about how to do business and the initiative also kindled patriotism among us. The profits will be shared with the Pulwama victims families,” she said.