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SEWA: The Final Week

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Somehow we have managed to make it to the last week and it’s been a busy one. Although we have had six weeks to create these reports, there was definitely a slight last minute panic to get everything in order and ready to present. Luckily, the projects seem to have gone smoothly and SEWA seem happy with our research and findings! After our presentations, we were presented with a Hansiba product and a book by the SEWA founder Ela Bhatt. As we had spent six weeks with SEWA learning about the embroidery and work that goes into the products, we were all really touched by the gifts and had an emotional good bye.

As it was our last week, we decided to make the most of it and visit some of our favourite places in Ahmedabad. Specifically, these included Manek Chowk which is transformed into a jewellery and spice mark

 

et during the afternoon. It is chaotic and completely unforgettable as you bump from person to person trying not to knock anything off the stalls and dodging the stall owners who are desperate for you to purchase something. It is also one of the best smelling places as all the herbs and spices are in bags, on tables and hanging from random poles!

Finally, we made the much talked about visit to Gandhi’s Ashram. This was a fitting end as throughout our six weeks he has been constantly referenced and so we could put what we had heard and the facts together. It was an eye-opening experience and definitely something we will remember as it was such a simple building that made such a difference. It was also amazing to see pictures of the bridge in Ahmedabad where Gandhi delivered some of his speeches and how it looks almost identical to when we drive over it, minus a few thousand people.

This internship has been an amazing experience and something that we will remember and learn from as it allowed us to see and use some of the theory that we have learnt, but has also opened our eyes to a different culture and way of life. There have been so many memorable moments, from the roads and rickshaws to the cold showers. A few interesting meals ranging from the traditional Gujarati to a chocolate and cheese ice cream sandwich but overall the kindness of everyone we met and worked with was unforgettable. We would like to thank SEWA, IIM-Ahmedabad, Newcastle and Boston for giving us this opportunity and hope that at some point we will be back!

Goodbye RBI!

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Our final week was focused on finishing our reports and preparing for our presentations in front of our supervisors, senior faculty members and Madame Principle, who heads up the College. With a Monday morning deadline many of the groups were working over the weekend to make the final edits to their reports. Each group produced well over 10,000 words with topics ranging from FinTech to Farmer Producer Organisations.

After receiving some feedback on our reports, the presentations were formally scheduled for Wednesday morning. However, we got an insight into India’s bizarre work culture when on the morning of the presentations we were told that they had been postponed. Following much confusion and consternation our presentations went ahead that afternoon. Although called a presentation, a more appropriate word would be discussion. Questions were continually posed and there was much debate as they tested our understanding of the topics. David and Harry found their presentation running well over the one hour mark! Having completed our presentations and the internship programme it was time to give out gifts to our supervisors and say some emotional goodbyes.

After completing the internship programme we have been left with some time to reflect on our time in India. The past six weeks have been an incredible experience filled with many highs and some lows and along the way we have made some lifelong friends, ensuring that ‘The Special Relationship’ is still very much intact.

This internship has been about much more than just what we have learned in the classroom and in preparing our reports. We have experienced a different way of life and gotten an insight into the thoughts and aspirations of a proud nation which wishes to be truly powerful on the international stage.

Our time here has opened our eyes to the incredible challenges that India faces. We have witnessed striking inequality and many people living in economic despair. With a population of over 1.3 billion and so many young people about to enter the workforce there will be a huge challenge to ensure formal employment for all.

However we have also encountered the defiant and optimistic spirit of the Indian people. Witnessing the successful overnight roll-out of the new GST (Goods & Services Tax) showed that economic reforms in this country can be successfully implemented and there is hope that with effective governance and policy, India can eventually establish itself as a developed country and lift so many of its population out of poverty.

Finally, we would like to thank those who have made this internship possible, especially the GEO team and the Reserve Bank of India. Also we would like to thank all of the staff at the CAB campus for being so welcoming and making our time there so enjoyable.

Namaste.

Week Two at Atom Bank… Tackling the Risk Assessment

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Monday

It was the start to another fantastic week at Atom Bank in the leafy suburb of Durham. The first task was to complete the impact assessment. Once we completed the final structure, we had a meeting with Dan in a cosy, colourful booth in the corner of our office. At Atom Bank, cosy and colourful are the two top priorities, so these booths are dotted around the office; it makes the space very comfortable and conducive to provoking great ideas. After the meeting, we made the last few changes and handed in the risk assessment before heading back to Newcastle for the evening.

Tuesday

Tuesday wasn’t the same since one of our group members, Leo, was missing from action. Without our trusty sidekick, we started on the actual risk assessment. We had a template to work from, so Akshay and Menno tried to work through the template and started filling in the empty spaces. After a couple of hours, we decided to discuss with Dan so that we could have a better understanding of how he wanted the risk assessment to be done. For the rest of the day we filled in the risk assessment and started shaping the structure.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, we were happy to have our beloved group member, Leo, back in the game! We started off the day by briefing Leo on what he missed from the day before and what we still needed to accomplish. In the middle of the day we had a two-hour meeting with Dan where he gave feedback on our risk assessment. After the meeting, we continued to work on the risk assessment until around 4:15. Dan graciously offered to drive us back into the city because he had business to attend to in the city centre. On the way, instead of going nonstop, he decided to show us a bit of the tourist side of the city. We stopped for pictures at the majestic Angel of the North, graciously spreading her wings towards the grey skies of the south. After a ten-minute stop for pictures, we continued on the rest of the journey and returned home with a new perspective on the city.

Thursday

Thursday was the day we needed to make the most progress on the risk assessment, as it was the last day in the office before Monday. We spent the better part of the morning working on the finishing touches related to content and then finished around 2 pm. After taking a 15-minute break, during which Leo wowed us with his incredible beat boxing skills (he should be famous), we had a final meeting with Dan and Helen, the head of the Financial Crime Team, to discuss what we had accomplished. The meeting lasted from 4-5 during which Helen, Head of Financial Crime, said she found very helpful. After the meeting, we caught the 5:17 train back to Newcastle.

 Friday

After four days of heading to Durham, Friday is always welcoming at the business school. The day was mostly used to smooth out the risk assessment and ensure that it had a proper structure. We then concluded the day writing the blog and having a little team bonding.

– Akshay