The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur is known for its flagship event Utkarsh, a yearly HR conclave. However, this year, 2020, the institute took a step further by organizing a first of its kind conclave with
Utkarsh 2.0. The 2-day event held on 28th, and 29th November had esteemed guests from eminent Public Sector Undertakings who interacted with the students in four-panel discussions followed by an opening ceremony. The theme for Utkarsh 2.0, '
Rethinking and Redefining HR in the Post-Pandemic Era', was also intriguing for both the students as well as the panelists. It brought to the surface the disruptions in the HR domain caused by the pandemic, which is one of the most serious. It also outlined how professionals, in a sector as challenging as public, are jumping the hurdles effectively.
The opening ceremony had Mr. Richard Rekhy, Board Member of KPMG - Dubai (Former CEO of KPMG India) as chief guest who shared his passion for HR, highlighting the domain's importance in the new normal.
Mr. D. V. Shastry, Executive Director, GAIL, and Director GAIL Gas Ltd., Mr. Manoj Barthwal, Executive Director & Head Academy, ONGC, Mr. Suresh Shetty, Chief General Manager - Employee Relations, HPCL, and Mr. S. K. Bose, Executive Director (HR), IOCL, enlightened the students with insights on how the OIL & Gas industry is facing the challenges posed by the pandemic head-on as the part of the first session moderated by Prof. Shiva Kakkar, IIM Nagpur.
The second session had Ms. Usha Singh, Director - HR, MOIL Ltd, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director (Personnel) Western Coalfields, and Mr. Vikraman Raman, Director - HR, Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Ltd., gave insights on the Metal & Mining industry and talked about the psychological impact on the industry at the beginning of the pandemic when coal and steel were declared emergency suppliers.
The third session of Utkarsh 2.0 had leaders from the Power industry, Mr. Vinod Kumar Singh, Director - Personnel, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., Mr. P. K. Singh, Director, Power Finance Corporation, and Mr. Abhay Kumar Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, NHPC, moderated by Prof. Arun Kumar Rath, IAS Retd & Former Union Sec Education. The discussion shed light on the Power sector's efficiency and promptness as the people have faced no power crisis during the lockdown.
The BFSI sector leaders came together in the last session moderated by Mr. Rajendra M Ganatra, Ex MD & CEO, India SME Asset Reconstruction Co. Limited. Ms. Seema Singh, CHRO & CFO, India Post Payments Bank, Mr. G. Mahalingam, Whole-Time Member, SEBI, and Mr. V. Narayanamurthy, Executive Director, IDBI Bank, talked about the increasing role and relevance of technology in the sector and how it ensured that the operations keep running during the lockdown as well.
All the guests complimented IIM Nagpur for organizing the event, which talked about Human Resource Management in the Public Sector. The event not only provided the students with knowledge and experience that they will cherish for the rest of their lives, but it also gave the guests a platform to interact with the younger generation. The event certainly marked a place in everyone's mind and notified that Human Resource Management is the backbone of not just any organization but of the entire country.