Jayesh Raikar, Chairman Young Indians Goa Chapter; and Director, Goldy Group of Companies talks about Yi Goa and his plans for the organisation.
Tell us about Yi…
Young Indians (Yi) is a movement for Indian Youth to converge, lead, co-create and influence India’s future. As an integral part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a non-government, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organization playing a proactive role in India’s development process.
Formed in 2002, Yi has created a platform for young Indians to work towards realizing a dream of a developed nation. It has a growing, inclusive membership across all geographies and demographics with over 3300 direct members in 54 chapters, and 30000 Yuva student members in 134 colleges across India. The Yi membership includes young progressive Indians between the age group of 21 to 45 years and comprises of entrepreneurs, professionals and achievers from different walks of life.
Yi’s projects and activities are primarily divided into three areas; ‘Youth Leadership’, ‘Nation Building’ and ‘Thought Leadership’, Yi hopes to emerge as the premier Indian youth organization having a voice on relevant platforms that work on solving India’s problems. Yi grooms its members for offices of significance and also enables Indian youth to converge, collaborate and co-create using an expanding digitally enabled network.
Under ‘Youth Leadership’, Yi works effectively for promoting leadership skills for its members through programs in entrepreneurship and innovation. Yi is one of the proud founders of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (G20 YEA) & Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs – Asia Pacific (CAYE-Asia Pacific) and engages the youth through international missions to many countries around the world to understand and learn from the best practices and cultures.
Under ‘Nation Building’, Yi engages its members under its projects as MASOOM, Gift an Organ and Road Safety. Yi also works under the broad categories of education, environment, healthcare, employability, arts (sports and culture), rural initiatives, accessibility and disaster management contributing positively to its surrounding eco system and the nation.
Under ‘Thought Leadership’, Yi engages its members through a contributory movement of constructive action, collaborative reasoning and collective voice. Yi conducts learning sessions with industry experts to impart experiential learning through interactions and discussions. Yi Leadership Academy (LA) upholds the founding principles, values and instill the same in Yi membership through Yi Leaders Fellowship Program. Yi organizes its Annual Flagship Summit ‘TakePride’ to come together as one and celebrate Yi’s achievements, brainstorm over the future roadmap, share and showcase the effort of its membership from across its 54 chapters.
With eighteen years of glorious past and decades ahead that promise nothing short, Yi intends to become a larger movement of young people with a conviction in “We Can, We Will”.
Tell us about your journey at Yi…
I joined Yi in 2015 but was not that active then because I was residing in Margao and all the meetings were conducted in Panaji. When I moved to Panaji in 2018, I started attending meetings and taking keen interest in all Yi activities. I was nominated the Co-Chair for the Rural Initiative Vertical in 2019. Having been involved actively in several rural initiatives, the committee appointed me as the Co-Chair for Yi Goa chapter for 2020 and Chair for the year 2021.
You took charge of the Goa council when it looked like the pandemic was on a down slide. However, the second wave has disturbed everyone’s plans. How has Yi Goa combated the situation?
In January and February we could pull off few interesting activities and learning sessions adhering to all safety regulations before the second wave hit us in March. However, digital technology is a boon in phases like the pandemic. All our meetings and discussions are carried out on digital meeting platforms. Although we would prefer physical meetings but looking at the bleak situation right now, online platform is best in everyone’s interest. As per the plans, we are still working on them in the back end and focusing on policy advocacy and online learning sessions where physical intervention is not required. Young Indians have also supported the fight against Covid by supplying medical aids to medical institutions and also plans to participate in vaccination drives and offer help wherever needed.
How is the interaction and exchange of ideas been with Yi’s national chapter?
It has been great. We do have meetings with the National Body every other month and also they are a phone call away for any help. Additionally, each member today has an YI app where they have access to all the information of activities happening across all chapters. So there is massive exchange of ideas taking place and whatever is relevant chapter wise is taken up for implementation. The National Body conducts many learning and leadership webinars throughout the year for us to brainstorm innovative ideas.
What areas of focus are you planning to work on during this term?
Our focus this year is entirely on rural youth and all our activities our inclined towards benefitting them. A decade ago, we Indians were complaining that because of enormous population India is lagging behind the world. Fortunately, the same enormous population adversity has turned into a blessing in disguise for India. Presently, India boasts of having the largest youth population in the world and the distribution ratio of Urban to Rural is 1:1. Consequently, 27 crores youth stay in Rural India and the same number stay in Urban India. The question we should ask ourselves is whether the rural youth has access to the same opportunities, education, conducive environment, etc. that the urban youth has. The answer is a big NO. Hence, this year Yi is trying to do their bit to uplift and provide access to the rural youth of India.
How has the ‘Talking Talukas’ initiative taken off?
Young Indians is more than glad to collaborate with GDP foundation for the Talking Taluka initiative as its resonates with the Three Pillars philosophy of YI. We strongly believe that, The Talking talukas initiative being conducted in all 11 Talukas of Goa will be successful in discovering hidden talent which will be beneficial to the rural youth and their own community at large.
Young Indians is also glad to be associated with Xaxti Riders for their talent search initiative for their cyclist training program and have sponsored a road bike for the same. Discovering hidden talent from the rural landscape will bring about a ripple effect in terms of positivity and ‘can do’ attitude amongst the rural youth.
As an entrepreneur and association leader, where do you look for inspiration and ideas to make a difference?
My father, Mohan Raikar is my inspiration. When times are tough and I complain about things not falling in place, I think about my father, his journey and hardships, and how he persevered and achieve success despite limited resources at his disposal. This gives me immense strength and belief to face any adversity coming my way. The amount of faith that he shows in me makes me push myself harder to experiment different things professionally. Having witnessed his transformation from a successful businessman to a social entrepreneur motivates me to get involved in community service. He being a philanthropist and always eager to help someone in need inspires me to do my bit for the society.
What is your mantra to fight the pandemic? What do you expect the government to do?
The Government lockdown continues. The decision to allow industry to operate with strict protocols is something that I am in favour of. Without the industry functioning, the economy will be in doldrums. Also, in the industrial sector, there is more restricted movement and safety protocols can be implemented effectively. Again, some industries which can voluntarily lockdown must give it a thought. In my businesses, we have temporarily shut our manufacturing units catering to the non-essential goods and we are operating units that manufacture essential goods. All this, by strictly adhering to all safety protocols.
The Government decision this time to keep the industry open is a big relief for all industrialists because after a dreadful last year things were just getting back to normal in the first quarter of the calendar year, a second lockdown would have killed the spirit of budding, struggling but promising entrepreneurs. On the policy level, I believe there are discussions in the Government regarding increasing the electricity tariffs. This is a retrograde step and bad timing to levy any additional costs on industry. The Government, learning from such pandemics, should try to upgrade the facilities and equipments at primary health care centres, so that the patient load could be distributed rather than it being concentrated only on two major government hospitals. Visitors requiring a RTPCR test to enter Goa is an on and off debate. When in the neighboring States it is mandatory. So why not in Goa?
How do you balance the work of Yi and your business? Share your ideas on multi-tasking?
The reason I could take up the Yi Chairmanship and devote time is because I have a strong and efficient team at my workplace. I do not have to run around for my daily operations. Hiring the right person is vital for any organization, then comes empowerment and delegation. Planning your day with the help of a to-do list and prioritizing the list as per importance helps me utilize my work hours efficiently. Also, allotting time slots or different days altogether for some special tasks or assignments makes me focus more effectively.
How do you see Goa as a destination for business in a covidised world?
When the entire nation was at standstill last year, Goa was open for tourism. In fact a new jargon ‘Staycation’ was coined, and Goa was number one on the preferred list. People booked long term accommodation and were happily enjoying their work from home period vacationing in Goa. I don’t see any reason why this would not continue on a long term, may be not for everyone but am sure it would work for many. Physical workspace boundaries will be diminished for companies who can manage getting their work done remotely and save a ton on physical infrastructure costs. Goa already tops the preferred list; this just might be another segment Goa has to watch out for.
I am an optimistic person; In Goa, I see lot of scope for small and medium scale industries to scale to big heights. Many MNCs operating from Goa still have to depend for their requirements on vendors outside the State. At times, existing Goan suppliers lose out to out of State competitors due to lack of product quality, the reason being may still use obsolete technology. Out of State suppliers are technologically advanced and use sophisticated machinery which enable them to produce better quality products and at a cost effective price.
A huge opportunity lies ahead for the young Goan entrepreneur; however, the business model has to be sustainable and stand the test of time including the pandemic. Also, it is high time the Government realizes that it cannot depend only on the tourism industry. Yes, put in efforts to thrive tourism but do not turn a blind eye towards other industry sectors. We are also your taxpayers and deserve to be heard and pleased
