A total of 329 students were awarded degrees across the PGDM(RM), PGDM(RM-Executive), and FPM(RM) programmes at the 44th Convocation Ceremony of the Institute of Rural Management Anand, ‘Tribhuvan Sahkari University’ on June 28. This convocation holds special significance as the first since IRMA’s transformation into the Tribhuvan Sahkari University – an Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.
Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat, graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest with Jagdish Vishwakarma, Minister of State for Cooperation, Gujarat as the Guest of Honour. The event was presided over by Dr JM Vyas, Vice Chancellor, Tribhuvan Sahkari University and was joined by Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Dr Umakant Dash, Director, IRMA.
During the ceremony, the prestigious Kuchibhotla Vasanthi Gold Medal for academic excellence was awarded to Ms Mallika Tripathi, PGDM(RM). This highly esteemed recognition was established 27 years ago in honour of the Late Ms Kuchibhotla Vasanthi, an alumnus of the PGDM(RM) programme who tragically passed away in 1997.
Mr Rahevar Jaypalsinh Mahendrasinh, from the fifth batch of the PGDM(RM-Executive) was awarded the IRMA Gold Medal for academic excellence in the PGDM (RM- Executive) programme.
Ms Eva Soni from the graduating batch of 2023-25, was honoured with the ‘Best Village Fieldwork Segment Award’.
Mr Nirav Karshan Karavadra from PGDM(RM) 2023-25 received the Prof. Shiladitya Roy Memorial Award for excellence in the Financial Management course. Mr Sahil Kumar from PGDM(RM) 2023-25 was honoured with the Prof. Monark Bag Memorial Award for excellence in the Operations Management course.
Presenting the report of the Institute, Dr. Umakant Dash, Director, IRMA shared key achievements from the past year, reflecting the institution’s growing impact. He shared that IRMA rose to the 49th rank in the prestigious NIRF rankings. The Ravi J Matthai Library of the institute advanced its digital infrastructure with the launch of a mobile app, along with the deployment of an RFID-based automated system from Switzerland. IRMA faculty contributed significantly to knowledge creation, publishing 94+ research articles, along with books and policy papers, cementing IRMA’s position as an academic leader in the rural management space. IRMA also signed notable MoUs with organisations like the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India; Government of Odisha; Next Bharat Ventures, Suzuki; while offering Consultancy services to key organizations and institutions, including the 16th Finance Commission.
Students from the 44th batch of IRMA have been placed in organisations of repute with median package of Rs 15.8 lakh per annum. The highest CTC offered was Rs 31.84 lakh per annum. Of the several organisations that participated in the campus, BFSI remained the dominant recruiter, while FMCG, CSR, and Social Business Enterprises also recruited actively.
Delivering the Convocation address, Governor of Gujarat said, “IRMA and now the “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University, is the realisation of a big dream shared by Dr. Verghese Kurien and the late Tribhuvan Das ji Patel, who devoted his entire life to the welfare of farmers through cooperatives. A revered contemporary, Sardar Shri Vallabhbhai Patel, also worked tirelessly for the upliftment of rural lives. These three visionaries believed that the comforts and facilities available to urban citizens should equally reach people in villages — enabling them to lead lives of dignity and opportunity.”
“Through the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, our country is advancing at a rapid pace, doubling the milk revolution. Farmers will prosper, the rural economy will grow, and a new milestone will be set in India’s cooperative sector,” the Hon’ble Governor said.
Reiterating the Prime Minister’s vision for a prosperous rural India, he added, “This University of Cooperation is the outcome of the far-sighted thinking of Prime Minister Modi and Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji. From the land of Gujarat, the Cooperative University now aims to take this idea forward in the spirit of nationalism.”
