The People Management Committee of The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized 'Next Gen Employability Industry-Academia Networking Meet' at Hotel The Citi Residenci, Durgapur, West Bengal on January 19, 2019. The objective of the Meet was to address the employability scenario of Eastern India and to understand and brainstorm today's requirements of the industries through an interface between representatives of Industry, Educational Institutes imparting Engineering and Management studies. The initiative brought the Industry and Academia representatives together under one roof and provided a platform where the Academia understood the challenges and measures needed to proceed for bridging the gap and make fresh graduates more industry ready. The Conclave was attended by Directors, Faculties and Administrative Officers of Engineering and Management Institutes and eminent HR Leaders involved in recruitment process.

Speakers at this event were:

• Mr. Somesh Dasgupta, Chairperson - The People Management Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Group President, India Power Corporation Limited
• Mr. Rahul Bose, Co - Chairperson - The People Management Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Global Manager Learning & Knowledge, IBM Global Business Services
• Mr. P.K. Sahu, Co - Chairperson - The People Management Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sr. General Manager (HRM & Safety), Tata Steel Processing And Distribution Limited
• Mr. Vinay Ranjan, Director (Personnel), Eastern Coalfields Ltd.
• Mr. Gopal Krishna Sharan, Chief Mentor, Super Smelters Ltd.
• Mr. Ankur Chaturvedi, General Manager- Operations, Emami Ltd
• Mr. Supratik Bhattacharya, Associate Director - HR, Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Jayanta K Mukherjee, Head - HR, Quaker Chemical India Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Jaidip Chatterjee, Head HR, Srei Financial Services
• Mr. Prakash Panda, Sr. Vice President - HR, India Power Corporation Ltd.
• Mr. Atanu Lahiri, Secretary, Bengal Chess Association


Eminent HR heads were of opinion that the present industrial society has opened up a multiplicity of occupations and professions and each one of them is associated with scientific knowledge and skills. It is a society of complex division of labour and requires people with specialized knowledge. The modern education fulfils the needs of industrial economy. A vast range of subjects like medicine, health, engineering, management and law have become hot areas of professionalization and specialization today. Hence according to them education was the single most important instrument for social and economic transformation, a well educated population, adequately equipped with knowledge and skill was not only essential to support economic growth, but it was also a precondition for growth to be inclusive since it's the educated and skilled person who could stand to benefit most from the employment opportunities which growth will provide.

A Memorandum of Association was also signed between The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Haldia Institute of Technology on that day.

The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue arranging Networking Meets between Industry and Academia across India.