Date:18/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/18/stories/2006021803870100.htm

Back `Armed' with IIM course, retirees march towards new careers

Deepak Goel

The highest salary for the outgoing batch stood at Rs 14 lakh per annum with the average being between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh a year.

New Delhi , Feb. 17

THE Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has a new breed of alumni — retired officers from the armed forces who have undergone a 24-week programme.

The first batch that passed out last year has secured good placements in the corporate sector in areas such as telecom, finance and retail.

The positions secured ranged from Deputy Manager-HR to Operations Manager.

The highest salary stood at Rs 14 lakh per annum with the average being between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh a year.

IIM Lucknow started this course last year on the suggestions of the Directorate-General Resettlement (DGR), which primarily looks for resettlement opportunities for retired personnel from the armed forces.

Called the General Management Programme (GMP), the course aims to familiarise students with the various management systems and processes. "The course provides the students contextual training of corporate affairs through case studies and various other methods," the Co-Programme Director, GMP, Prof. R. Srinivasan, told Business Line. The idea is to provide an opportunity to the retired personnel to start a second career. However, some go back to their parent organisations in case they have a few years of service remaining, Mr Srinivasan said. But the programme is primarily meant for the retired or those who have only a few months of service left, he added.

The 24-week course is divided into five terms. The first three terms are similar to the institute's mainstream MBA programme and specialisation in fields such as HR or operations is provided in the remaining terms, Prof Archana Shukla, Co-Programme Director, GMP, added.

Part of the fees is borne by the DGR and the candidates pay the balance. Nominations for the 60 seats available under this programme are sent by the Directorate, though the institute suggests the minimum qualification to be 10+2 as also qualitative finesse of students.