This IIM student runs 22 firms, partners with four state govts

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, December 29

Usually, the students of professional courses strive to get an attractive job after getting their degrees. But Karanvir Singh thought differently. And that has made all the difference.

At 26, Karanvir, a student of the executive MBA programme at IIM-Rohtak, is the founder-chairman of Visionum Group, on the board of directors of 22 companies, has represented the country at forums like the United Nations Organisation, World Economic Forum and World Trade Organisation and runs welfare projects in partnership with four state governments.

“I always wanted to generate jobs and not merely be a seeker. I felt that life is not meant to earn money, but to create an impact. Hence, I decided to do something which helps people and generates job opportunities. Our group has partnered with four state governments to run welfare projects under the public-private partnership model,” Karanvir said while talking to The Tribune.

Karanvir, who belongs to Ludhiana in Punjab and moved to Indore in Madhya Pradesh to pursue BTech in electronics and telecommunication, shot to fame with his tele-rickshaw project aimed at providing last-mile connectivity by linking auto-rickshaws through mobile app and telecall network. He also joined the wives and other family-members of auto-rickshaw operators through self-help groups and arranged self-employment, skill-development training sessions for them in making of incense sticks, bouquets, brooms and other items of domestic use.

His group played an instrumental role in getting toilets constructed in state-run schools in Indore. Apart from getting an offshore grant for the purpose, Karanvir roped in schoolteachers and panchayat members for the project. Back home in Ludhiana, he partnered with the Municipal Corporation to develop a public Wi-Fi zone under the PPP model.

“Many times, the welfare programmes of the government are intended to benefit a large number of people, but there are procedural delays owing to lack of a well-defined roadmap, technical glitches and other lacunae in the mechanism. Here, we step in for smooth execution of the projects on a sustainable basis,” he stated.

Karanvir’s group trains interns from various prestigious business schools.