India Development Solutions

By P. Koshy*

Multiculturalism is a term that is akin to Indian society. With diverse cultures, languages, religions and communities, multiculturalism has its reflections in every sphere of social   life in India. However, as can be seen throughout, there are counter voices to multicultural existence, as was raised, for instance, under the leadership of the Thackeray clan in India’s economic nerve centre, Mumbai.

Living with multiculturalism and diversity has now come to be a fact of life. Like a beautiful garden, with flowers of varied hue, Indian multiculturalism comprises the harmonious coexistence of diverse groups of people, without crossing any established line or rules. At any point in time, if a cultural intrusion or crossing of the cultural border occurs, there might be a possibility of quick darkening of the clouds leading to an atmosphere conducive to the falling of flowers in the garden,  as  happened recently in Mumbai and in other parts of the country on several occasions in the history of post independent era.

However, Indian multiculturalism is indeed an experience, something that Indians have to live together, as Hindus (80%), Muslims (13.4%), Christians (2.3%) and Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and others constituting the rest. Also on caste lines  there are divisions within the majority religion as Scheduled Castes (SCs) (16.2 %)and Scheduled Tribes (STs) (8.2 %) as well as 37 to 40 % Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Above all, there are linguistic minorities and majorities.

Though we are aware of India’s demographic profile, as above, no sufficient data is available for a multicultural profiling of Indian work forces and work sites, especially within the private sector, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, where majority of Indians work. When it comes to diversity at worksites, we are fed with gender data and women participation that stands at 13. 31 % on an all India level, as per the 3rd census of Small Scale Industries by the D.C of SSI, 2001-02.

However, multiculturalism is something that we could drew strength from, especially in the context of our contemporary global market, which is in an ever expanding mode, with the proliferation as well as increased application of Information and Communications Technology; faster and cheaper connectivity in terms of travel, transport; easier and faster movement of people; easier and reduced restrictions for international business, export and import. It is the treaties agreed upon by the nations under the aegis of World Trade Organisation (WTO) that facilitated an enhanced economic integration at a world level, leading to possibilities for more and more cultural interactions at all levels. This being the background of the recent spurt of interest in multiculturalism, it is to be noted that India stands poised at the top of the spectrum with the length and breadth of its diversity, than any other country in the world, and multiculturalism is a much celebrated aspect of the Indian social fabric.

 MSMEs impacts millions by way of creating job opportunities

•  Vast majority of world’s labor force within the-non agriculture sector are part of Micro, small and medium enterprise segment.
• According to UNIDO estimates, MSME workforce accounts for sixty to 80 percent of employment
• 90 percent of all enterprises are MSMEs.

• In India 25 million workers are in the MSME sector as per the 3rd census of small scale industries conducted in 2001-2 by Development Commissioner of Small Scale Industries and in 10.52 millon enterprises.
• This figure does not include enterprises millions of Own Account Enterprises, Non-Directory and Directory enterprises, which is around 65 million people, according to NSSO estimates (NSSO 56 round).
• Thus MSME segment of the economy is a force to be reckoned with and cannot be ignored and need to involved actively for the success of any social, development and public policy
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Promoting a Multicultural Work Force: Challenges, Lessons and Opportunities for Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

PRESS RELEASE

Institute for Development Studies and Enterprise Research (IDSER)

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Tel: 91-9946003449

Seminar on Multiculturalism: Call for participation, paper presentation and

collaboration ( Aug 2009, Cochin Kerala)

Institute for Development Studies and Enterprise Research (IDSER), an institute

under the management of Samadhan Foundation, Kerala, India, is planning to

organize a seminar on challenges and opportunities for Indian Micro, Small and

Medium Enterprises in managing a multicultural labor force. The seminar is the

first of its kind and is tentatively scheduled to be held in the first week of Aug

2009, in Cochin, Kerala.

The seminar would be an opportunity to share International Best Practices;

discuss and deliberate upon gains and advantages for MSMEs; sharing of

experiences in managing a multicultural work force in the context global market.

In addition to the above the seminar would be an opportunity to discuss: various

aspects on multicultural workforce in MSMEs; need to promote multiculturalism

and the role it can play in building peace and harmony; Multiculturalism in India ;

Multicultural Labor force in MSMEs some issues and challenges;

Further the seminar is expected to generate awareness about the benefits that

MSMEs may accrue from having a multicultural workforce; share experiences of

some of the cases in managing multicultural workforce; policies and programs in

other countries to encourage multiculturalism. Those who are interested in

presenting papers in the seminar and organizations, agencies and others who

wish to collaborate, may kindly contact us as early as possible.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it tel. (Mobile) 91-

9946003449

Why this seminar relevant?

MSMEs impacts millions by way of creating job opportunities

_ Vast majority of world’s labor force within the-non agriculture sector are

part of Micro, small and medium enterprise segment

_ According to UNIDO estimates, MSME workforce accounts for sixty to 80

percent of employment

_ 90 percent of all enterprises are MSMEs

_ In India 25 million workers are in the MSME sector as per the 3rd census

of small scale industries conducted in 2001-2 by Development

Commissioner of Small Scale Industries and in 10.52 millon enterprises.

Promoting a Multicultural Work Force: Challenges, Lessons and

Opportunities for Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

PRESS RELEASE

Institute for Development Studies and Enterprise Research (IDSER)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: 91-9946003449

_ This figure does not include enterprises millions of Own Account

Enterprises, Non-Directory and Directory enterprises, which is around 65

million people, according to NSSO estimates (NSSO 56 round)

_ Thus MSME segment of the economy is a force to be reckoned with and

cannot be ignored and need to involved actively for the success of any

social, development and public policy

MSMEs as partners in nation building and development

_ MSMEs are a partner with the state in achieving socio-developmental

objectives

_ MSME work site / work force targeted interventions would help the state

and development agencies effectively reach out to a large number of

people

_ Could reach a group of workers at a site and in cluster/s

_ Through workers their families also can be reached

MSME role in national integration and promoting multiculturalism

_ Employing of workers belonging to all cultural backgrounds would make

MSME worksites truly multicultural

_ This would enable people to get an opportunity to interact, communicate

and build close association with each other on a daily basis while they are

at work

Multiculturalism, Diversity management and Peace building

_ While this being the case, not much of an attention is being paid by social,

developmental agencies and the government to associate MSMEs in

programs and policies targeted at National integration

_ MSME work force and worksites can contribute much to the national

integration, peace, understanding, harmony

_ India with its vast diversity in all spheres of life, needs to promote

understanding between different communities and peace

_ Different identities should not be a reason for furthering division

_ Conflicts and violence always cause hurdles in economic development,

employment & income generation

Addressing the challenge of multiculturalism by Indian MSMEs

_ The global market is multicultural

_ India being a multicultural society, its companies have a definite

advantage in the global market,

Promoting a Multicultural Work Force: Challenges, Lessons and

Opportunities for Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

PRESS RELEASE

Institute for Development Studies and Enterprise Research (IDSER)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: 91-9946003449

_ Are our MSMEs follow a conscious HR policy that encourages

multiculturalism?

_ MSME sector need to have a more proactive HR policy

Cultural intolerance: a threat to national unity

_ Growing communal divisions, cultural, linguistic polarizations and demand

for quotas etc gives an impression of fast dissolution of multicultural ethos

in India

_ In this context, there is a need to educate and learn from the international

experiences in managing multiculturalism

_ Introduction of Labor diversity policy for MSMEs may have benefits since it

is the largest work force in the country

MSMEs in a multicultural global market

_ MSMEs with a multicultural work force are:

_ Attuned to the global market

_ Can gain a better brand image as they can advertise them as multicultural

_ Since they are ready to accommodate different cultural groups, customers

from diverse backgrounds would be more receptive

_ Multicultural team can understand the requirements of a multicultural

customer base

_ International collaborations would be more easy

_ Winning contract and bringing in outsourcing work, a company with

multicultural work force would fare better( ITES companies that win

contracts all have very clear cut policy on diversity

_ They would attract FDI more faster

Seminar would discuss ………

Challenges, opportunities and lessons to be learned from international

experiences in the promotion & management of a multicultural labor force in

Indian MSMEs

_ Theoretical perspectives: academic papers on Multicultural labor force and

Global market as multicultural

_ Status of multicultural workforce and HR policy: Studies and evidences

_ Best practices in this context from European Union, USA, Africa, Middle

East and other Asian Countries

_ Perspectives from Government,NGOs and International agencies

_ Industry experiences in managing multicultural workforce and lessons to

be learned

Promoting a Multicultural Work Force: Challenges, Lessons and

Opportunities for Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

PRESS RELEASE

Institute for Development Studies and Enterprise Research (IDSER)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: 91-9946003449

Those who are interested in presenting papers in the seminar and organizations,

agencies and others who wish to collaborate, may kindly contact us as early as

possible. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it tel. (Mobile)

91-9946003449

For more details, please contact

Dr. P.Koshy

Seminar Coordinator

IDSER

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

tel. (Mobile) 91-9946003449