Big Mac, Big Dreams.....

I came across an inspiring article in Economic Times, 'Big Mac Rolls Out CEOs from Ground Crew'. An MBA degree is a far cry for many from rural areas who just manage to study upto 10th or 12th standard. But their determination to take the world by storm has taken them to the higher echleons and from the store or crew level, flipping burgers to becoming senior level managers running a Rs.100 crore business. 37 year old Mani Pillai, head of Mc Donald's Mumbai operations is just one example cited but there are many more like him inspiring the 9000 odd staff across 210 fast food chains across the country.

They might have limited education, some being from the rural areas but the fast food chain encourages employees many starting out at the crew level to take courses offered within the company and some even are allowed to pursue external courses which the company partially pays for and the remainder paid by the employee wishing to study motivates them to take it on with seriousness. This includes an English language course which instills more confidence and someday they even land up in top notch positions in the company. Some even get to go to the 'Hamburger University' in Australia. No wonder then that the attrition rate is about 20% in an industry where the average attrition rate is 60%.

These initiatives not only contribute in the growth of rural India but also encourages youngsters with little formal education to dream of being employed in main stream jobs instead of them going the wrong way. Going beyond corporate social responsibility, companies can try and fit in youngsters with limited formal education and teach them skills which would benefit their comapny in the long run. They would be more serious about their role in the company and their gratitude could culminate into a positive outcome with examples like Mani Pillai running a Rs.100 crore business.

In India where formal education is given high importance, many forget that in a billion plus populated country, the numbers below poverty line override those above poverty line. And if our country needs to go beyond a developing nation or third world country, tapping potential at the grass roots could be a boon. How is everyone expected to go to an IIM and pay lakhs of rupees as fees?

Our country needs a reality check. While there are some who have crossed the hurdles of poverty and managed to go to an IIM, not everybody is inclined towards management the same way. Some develop an interest in other fields and if blue chip companies can do their bit apart from hunding reputed educational institution across the world, it will do more than just inspiring youngsters. We can do more than just cling onto hope of bridging the gap that divides the working class ranging from agriculturlists and Government employees to IT professionals and businessmen, we could look at a new India instead. And more reasons for several youngsters to say 'I'm Loving It'.