Three Wheeled Revolution Answers

A THREE WHEELED REVOLUTION-
Interview with IRFAN ALAM

Irfan Alam, an internationally acclaimed entrepreneur is a man with a
difference. He has deviated from the usual path of corporate business
mentality to a socially responsible entrepreneurship.
During his teenage years, he started Stock Trade Analysis and won a famous
reality show, “Business Baazigar”in which he contested with a business
proposal. The main idea behind the proposal was to organize the rickshaw
sector and make it a profitable venture. He suggested on redesigning rickshaws
and equipping it with music, newspapers, first aid kits, refreshments and
advertisements. It created a revolution in the rickshaw sector. He was invited
for the Presidential Entrepreneurship summit 2010 and Obama complimented
him with the words as “you are doing a tougher job than me”.
The real journey to his success began with water. When he was seventeen
years old, he hired a rickshaw on a summer afternoon. He was thirsty. He
asked the rickshaw puller whether he would provide him water. He answered
him that there was no such provision because he did not have money to buy
and stack them. That moment made him to think about the plight of the
rickshaw pullers. Thus in 2007, Samman was formed to organize and empower
the rickshaw pulling industry under one shade and thereby improving their
livelihood. It started with “no funds “but an “innovative “and “special thrill” for
its members. The word Samman means respect or dignity to all. Alam strongly
believed to bring the marginalized to the mainstream. The first aim was to
change the concept of “rent” rickshaws to “own” rickshaws. They were given
training on basic etiquette and traffic rules. They were also given insurances, id
cards and uniforms. The money earned through Samman. It gave them a sense
of belonging and empowerment. The social venture thus became a social
cause. Children of the operators and their spouses attended free evening
classes called Samman Gyan. Innovative ideas like solar powered fibre glass
rickshaws are a new attempt at present. The environmental friendly mode of
transport has given a new identity and self-esteem to the underprivileged.
Some people enjoy success individually. There are people who are able to
make others taste the fruits of their triumphs. Here Alam stands unique as a
saviour for the downtrodden.Irfan Alam founded the Sammaan Foundation. It
was to modernize the rickshaw pulling sector in Bihar.
The lesson titled “A Three Wheeled Revolution” is an interview with Irfan
Alam. Irfan Alam started life from very humble background. This lesson tells us
how he became a successful entrepreneur. He shares the story behind his
entrepreneurship. Alam was once travelling in a rickshaw. When he felt thirsty
he wanted to get water from the rickshaw puller. But he could not provide
water since he couldn’t afford it in his rickshaw. Soon Irfan thought of a
business idea. He started an agency named ‘SammaaN Foundation’. This
agency plays an important role to organize the rickshaw pullers. With this
agency, he could increase the living conditions of the rickshaw pullers. He used
rickshaws as a source of income from advertising, music and newspapers for
passengers, first aid and the selling of cold water and juice.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS.
1. Irfan Alam comes to your School to inaugurate the Youth Club. Prepare a
script for announcement introducing him (Young Entrepreneur- founder and
chairman of SammaaN Foundation- recognized as one of the top thirty Youth
Icons of India by the Times of India).
Respected Principal, my dear Teachers and my loving friends,
As we all know, today we are really honoured with the living presence of
young and successful entrepreneur Sri Irfan Alam to inaugurate the Youth Club
of our School. He is the founder and chairman of SammaaN Foundation. His
efforts to empower those at the bottom of Indian Society have been
recognized widely. We became very much interested when we studied more
about him from our English lesson titled, “A Three Wheeled Revolution”. He
has won the Business Baazigar and the World Bank’s Innovation Award.
Besides he has been recognized by the Times of India as one of the Top 30
Youth Icons of India. Alam, the winner of Business World’s “Hottest Young
Entrepreneur” award and the TED fellowship award. He is really a source of
inspiration to all of us. We are happy to say that we will contribute something
for the betterment of the society. So I am very happy to welcome him to our
School for inaugurating the Youth Club.
2. The R&D wing of SammaaN is planning to redesign rickshaws with necessary
improvements. Think about some useful modifications that you would like to
suggest to Irfan Alam. Negotiate your ideas with your partner and make a final
list of modifications.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
SUB: Modifying the rickshaw
Dear Irfan,
It is a matter of immense pleasure for me to know that you are planning to
make some useful modifications in the rickshaws to improve their services. I
would suggest the following modifications.
a) At first I would like to suggest the matter of having food items. It would help
them to enjoy their journey. The travellers can be charged for the same.
b) Secondly I would like to suggest that there should be necessary
arrangements to close the open part. The travellers suffer a lot from the
sunlight. The roof can also be extended so that the Rickshaw puller will not be
exposed to the hot sun.
c) Thirdly I would suggest improving the advertising method.
d) Finally I suggest putting music box on one side of the rickshaw.
Thanking you
Neil Tom
3. Your class has decided to conduct a group discussion on the topic “India- A
Land wonder for young Entrepreneurs.” You are asked to initiate the
discussion. Prepare the script of a presentation you would make on the
occasion.
I agree that India is really a land wonder for young Entrepreneurs. Today, India
currently has more than 48 million small businesses, double the number of the
small companies here in the U.S. According to Indian government data, Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) contribute nearly 8 percent of the
country’s GDP, 45 percent of the manufacturing output, and 40 percent of the
country’s total exports. Small businesses in India create 1.3 million jobs every
year and provide the largest share of employment after agriculture. They play
a significant role in the country’s GDP.
4. You have read the interview with Irfan Alam, founder and chairman of
SammaaN Foundation. Prepare a blog on Irfan’s ideas of entrepreneurship and
the means he adopted to execute his ideas. The blog should be presented in
such a way as to motivate the young budding entrepreneurs.
IRFAN ALAM A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR WITH A VISION:
By Naveen Kumar DATE:
Irfan Alam is a young entrepreneur who founded the SammaaN Foundation to
modernize the rickshaw pullers in Bihar. It is really interesting to find out his
ideas and visions on entrepreneurship. It is quite surprising to know his story
as a successful entrepreneur. Alam once happened to travel in a rickshaw.
When he asked for water, the rickshaw puller couldn’t provide him as he
couldn’t afford it. It was at that time an idea flashed through his mind. It was
the starting point of a business plan. He realized that there was a market for
selling water bottles. Next day he talked to five rickshaw pullers and gave them
each eight bottles of water. He told them that for every bottle they sold, he
would make a profit of two rupees. This really helped rickshaw pullers to earn
one rupee per bottle. This gave him much confidence. Really entrepreneurship
is in his blood. He had started his first portfolio management firm at the age of
13. It means that there is no age limit for beginning a career of
entrepreneurship. When he founded SammaaN Foundation, he could give
proper training in traffic rules. Besides he arranged loans for the rickshaw
pullers to buy their own rickshaws. This organization provide him much
confidence. As students we should be hardworking and truthful to become a
successful entrepreneur. The life of Irfan Alam is really an inspiration.

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A THREE WHEELED REVOLUTION-

Interview with IRFAN ALAM

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