Check the institutes that topped the Times Alternative Career Survey (East) & Times Helping Hands who touched the lives of many amidst the pandemic

Education plays an essential role in empowering young minds and helping them to face life challenges independently. It helps in developing their self-confidence, enhancing knowledge and honing their skills. It is needless to say that education is crucial in shaping our future through young minds. So, it is also extremely important for a student to choose the best course for their future career.
Engineering, Medical & Management are the mainstream courses that students generally opt for.But what about the many other alternative courses that can help students achieve great success in life? Subjects/Courses like Fashion Designing, Travel & Tourism, Hotel & Hospitality Management, and many more are quite popular in the rest of the world have helped many students achieve their dream care. However, in India and specifically in Eastern India, the institutes teaching these courses do not get much prominence. So while we believe that choosing the right institute helps students accelerate towards a successful career, it is essential to select the right institute for the same.
Research Methodology
The objective of this research was to arrive at the respective categories in the East. The survey had three major modules to arrive at the analysis and final ranking, i.e. Desk Research, Perceptual and Factual survey (Participatory Survey).
Here’s a list of Institutes that top the Times Alternative Career Survey (East) 2021.

IEM’s International Institute of Hotel & Hospitality Management (IIIHM)

IEM’s International Institute of Hotel Management (IIIHM) is a premier department of Hotel & Hospitality management of the University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata, that provides diverse career options to prospective and promising enthusiasts. The institute has fully equipped state of the art kitchens and laboratories, two well-equipped restaurants, a well-stocked library, a huge House Keeping practical laboratory & three mock guest rooms for practical sessions. It also includes facilities like Food & Beverage, House-keeping, Front Office, Nutrition, Languages – English & French, Human Resource Management and Digital Marketing. AT IIIHM, there is a great opportunity for foreign collaborations and international career exposure integrated with the promotion of diverse platforms for encouraging and awarding entrepreneurship activities.
National College of Education

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. To achieve this goal, we need teachers who are trained, enhanced and research prone professionals. Keeping this as our vision, the National College of Education has a unique teachers’ training facility at its sprawling campus at Rajarhat. In a grand ceremony, it was inaugurated in 2017 by Sri Partha Chatterjee, Education Minister, Govt. of West Bengal. The institution is approved by NCTE, Govt. of India and is affiliated to WBUTTEPA for B.Ed. and WBBPE for D.El.Ed. Courses.
The curriculum is designed to integrate pedagogical knowledge with good communication skills, understanding of student psychology, and usage of different teaching-learning techniques and audio-visual aids, which are essential in making a well-trained teacher. As a result, every year since its inception, they have been achieving 100% excellence in their results and placements. Equipped with state of the art technology, well-equipped laboratories and an enriched library, the National College of Education aspire to be one of the best Teachers’ Training institutes in the country.
NSHM Knowledge Campus
Future perfect: In tune with the future of learning and work propelled by Industry 4.0 and onward, NSHM is well placed to emanate cutting edge human resources for the rapidly growing and disrupting sectors of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Applications, Cyber Security, Data Science, Gaming, Mobile, AI/ML, Robotics, Mobile Application Development, etcetera.
Advantage Learning: The computing and analytics environment provides a huge range of learning right from the fundamentals of Operating Systems, distributed systems, Computing and Programming, Design & Architecture, Data Structure, Algorithms, Analysis, Analytics, Mathematics and Statistics, Operations Research, Software Engineering to intermediate and advanced learning of databases, Warehousing, Mining, Cloud Computing, OOPS, NLP, Neural Networks, Game Development, Security, Intelligent system development, automation, and applications. Moreover, there are modern labs, virtual labs, projects, contemporary pedagogy tools and IT-enabled techniques to enhance learning experiences.

Admission: NSHM encourages prospective learners with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) mindsets and with a good academic background to apply for admission to their program of choice. There are selection tests and other procedures for which the e-brochures 2021-22 can be referred.
Sanjiban College of Nursing and Sanjiban School of Nursing
Sanjiban Hospital was founded by Dr Subhasis Mitra, an oncologist and Dr Dalia Mitra, an anesthesiologist with classified and experienced doctors, in 2012. An alignment with a difference of vision in healthcare, medical education and research, located at Fuleswar, was inaugurated by Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the erstwhile President of India. A group of doctors who have been trained and have worked in the United Kingdom joined hands with the recognized local doctors to serve society with the best of health facilities in a rural location in the Howrah district. Sanjiban has now grown into a 500-bed multi-super-speciality hospital.

The hospital was established to deliver healthcare services to every stratum of society at an affordable cost and generate sustainable livelihood for the clique. At the very beginning, while initiating the services concerning healthcare to the society, the founder group of doctors perceived the shortage of trained workers in the healthcare sector. So, to outreach for a skilled workforce, they established Sanjiban College of Nursing and Sanjiban School of Nursing to implement B.Sc. Nursing and General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM) courses with accreditation from the Indian Nursing Council (INC) and the West Bengal Nursing Council (WBNC) and West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS). These nursing institutes encourage females from that region to pursue a career and elevate and ensure female employment.
Srijani Sarkar, a student, achieved the first position in the Third Year final examination of the West Bengal Nursing Council with distinction in 2020. In the path of moving towards continuous growth & development of the society, Sanjiban Group of Institutes are affiliated with many government and international organizations. They are constantly implementing several healthcare courses, namely, Doctor of Medicine (equivalent to MBBS), B.Sc. in Critical Care Technology, Operation Theatre Technology, Diploma Courses in Dialysis Technician, Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Technology and Govt. sponsored Skill Development courses like Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, General Duty Assistant, Medical Sales Representative, etc. In a nutshell, Sanjiban Hospital and Sanjiban Group of Institutes denote a clear idea of prosperous, healthy living and a vibrant, effective education system that serves as an institute with an amalgamation of modernity and medicine.
Music & entertainment partner: 98.3 Mirchi

“Media’s importance in these times is ineffable, with the public seeking credible sources of information to remain abreast with information. Radio has emerged as one of the most credible sources of hyper-local information. As research figures suggest, age-old attachment to radio was rejuvenated during this period. Along with other forms of media, radio was instrumental in keeping the spirits high and disseminating positive information. Radio will continue to spread its wings even further in the future. At Mirchi, we have constantly evolved the platforms of communication on radio and beyond. This field blends creativity with content and will create several opportunities for media professionals of tomorrow,” said Rakesh CK, Business Director – ENIL.
Times helping Hands

Billions of people around the globe are living through extremely tough times because of the rapid global spread of the second wave of COVID-19. The pandemic has been widespread in India, with the Eastern part of the country also reeling under the effects of the virus outbreak. But, as we all know, “Calamities bring humans together”. In the last 1.5 years, during this Covid-19 pandemic, everyone has been doing their best for the greater good of society amidst all the negativity and suffering. And to say the least, some of the stories are remarkable.
Here are a few stories that have made a mark and have touched our lives, heroes who have selflessly worked towards helping people amidst the tough times and have been instrumental in contributing towards the betterment of society during these trying times.
ENT surgeons taking a leading role in the war against Covid

ENT surgeons are playing a leading role in fighting against COVID 19 and black fungus in the state of West Bengal. Dr Dwaipayan Mukherjee, ENT Surgeon and Ex-honorary secretary of ENT Association of West Bengal, said that many ENT doctors were infected, and some were succumbed to death in fighting against COVID 19 in West Bengal. Dr Suvojit Banerjee, President of The Association of Otolaryngologists of India, West Bengal, stated that the ENT Association donated Rs. 2 lakhs to the State emergency relief fund to fight against COVID 19. Dr Snehasish Barman, Hony. Secretary of AOIWB informed, “The Association distributed PPEs, masks and other required materials among ENT doctors across the state for free of cost during the initial period of 1st wave of COVID 19, last year to serve the non-COVID patients. Dr Dwaipayan Mukherjee also added, “In last one year different programs were arranged for updating the scientific knowledge to fight against COVID 19. Now we are organizing an awareness campaign on post-COVID mucor (black fungus). Common people need not be scared. But Diabetes should be kept under control and an early visit to ENT Surgeons in slightest suspicion in post-COVID time is always beneficial for early diagnosis and cure.”
Sanjiban Hospital

Sanjiban Hospital, a class I super-speciality hospital in Fuleswar, Howrah, with a team of highly qualified doctors, medical staff and state-of-the-art infrastructure, has proved that affordable healthcare can be provided without compromising on the quality of treatment.
Facilities Available:
1. Super speciality Hospital equipped with 500 beds
2. 200 ICU beds (100 more beds are coming up shortly)
3. 200 ventilators
4. 60 specialized, experienced doctors
5. 200 nurse and support staffs
6. To date, the hospital has successfully treated 6000 covid patient
7. RT- PCR test in our Lab
8. “Sasthya Sathi” card is acceptable for Covid treatment.
ICMR guidelines for hospitalization:
1. Admit in Ward: Breathing distress/respiration rate >or = 24 per min/O2 saturation level 90%-93%
2. Admit in ICU: respiration rate per min >30/O2 saturation <90%
Contact details: Sanjiban, Fuleshwar, Howrah, 9163324525,9088096720,8420028468
St. Augustine’s Day School, Barrackpore and Shyam Nagar

“Proud to be Augustinian”, launched in 2018 by St. Augustine’s Day School Barrackpore & Shyamnagar, runs a free evening institute for underprivileged girl children, most of whom are enrolled in but not attending their public schools regularly. In its 4th year, the institute is currently self-funded with nearly 200 enrolments, all of whom are provided free uniforms, shoes, textbooks, exercise copies, a stationery kit, and a snack.
Teachers & senior students of the regular School volunteer to teach these girls English, Maths, Computers, and co-curricular like Dancing, Singing, Art, Karate and Yoga, as part of a structured routine and raise hygiene awareness. Exams are held, and annual report cards, course completion certificates and a class photograph are given. In addition, the girls are given the opportunity to showcase their talent at the Annual School Sports, Annual School Concert, Elocution & Painting Competition and more. This program has been thriving since it has given many the confidence to attend their public school more regularly.
During lockdown 2020, the Schools launched a dedicated Helpdesk, “Paashe Aachi Paashe Thaako”, that distributed dry food and medicines to the girls’ families, most of whom were robbed of their livelihood. Further, as the regular school started their online classes, these girls were not left behind. Parents & the girls were invited to the school premises, maintaining all hygiene protocols, downloading the various educative apps, and getting trained on accessing the online classes to ensure that these girls could continue their education. They were even provided data reimbursement to attend online courses. During their Annual Prize Distribution Ceremony held in March 2021, report cards and prizes were distributed and fun activities involving the parents.
Umesh Khandelwal

He has been one of the leading entrepreneurs of Odisha and has always believed in giving back to society. During the pandemic, Umesh Khandelwal has been actively involved in providing help and support to the people of the state through his Trust. During the first wave of the pandemic, their Trust distributed around 1.2 lakhs packets of cooked food and in the second wave, apart from cooked food, they helped covid affect people with oxygen cylinders, concentrators and ambulance service. “Our priority is to impart psychological, financial & technical support to poverty-stricken people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic”, said Umesh Khandelwal.
Ruchi Foodline

Started as a small unit in 1976, Ruchi Foodline is now a limited company and has grown in leaps and bounds in the last 45 years. The man behind the company’s rapid growth and making it a prominent brand across the globe is Sarat Kumar Sahoo, the Managing Director. They have provided dry food packets and daily essentials to artists, temple priests, newspaper hawkers, municipality workers, theatre artists, and medical staff in places across the state during the pandemic. Even during cyclone Yaas, the brand helped people through its ‘Ruchi Bipada Belara Bandhu’ by distributing dry food packets and other essential items to affected people.
Their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities included Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan, empowering women through Ruchi Maa Yojana, laying the foundation stone for blind school in Cuttack & many more. In addition, the support of the other members/directors, Sangeeta Sahoo, Arbind Sahoo, Salina Sahoo and Rashmi Sahoo, has added to the brand’s success.
MGM Green Energy Limited

MGM Green Energy Limited, a company, based in Odisha, producing Green Energy, launched Jana Swasthya Programme in April last year. Under this programme, in June 2021, the firm donated 100 high-quality oxygen concentrators to Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL). In 2020, the firm donated healthcare kits to the sanitisation workers of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), police personnel and frontline workers of the state. MGM Green Energy and its sister concern MG Mohanty launched the Jana Posana programme to provide dry food and ration to more than 7000 poor and financially deprived families in Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Boudh, Puri and at different places in the state.
Tanuj Mohanty, promoter and CEO of the company, mentioned, “We partnered with BMC and provided the healthcare kits to the needy families and TMC of various panchayats who don’t have access to such kits to protect themselves from Covid-19”.
MGM Green Energy Ltd is primarily renewable energy generation and has installed solar and wind power projects across India. Their primary objective is to create sustainable businesses and improve the quality of life by protecting the environment. The company is committed to serving the people of Odisha for all times to come.
Gyan Niketan Schools

The philanthropic couple, Mr Kishore Kunal and wife Mrs Anita Kunal, well-known across Bihar for the famous chain of Gyan Niketan Schools in Patna, have been implemental in sustaining the lives of many during the COVID-19 pandemic. They established the Manaviya Vibhava Vikas Nyas (trust) in 1986 for the schools and added a teacher’s training institute later. Thus, trust has played a pivotal role in helping the distressed.

"I believe that if God has bestowed me with his blessings in abundance, then it is my duty to help those who haven’t been so privileged," says Mrs Anita Kunal. From arranging buses for the safe transportation of migrant workers during the pandemic to distributing food packets, medicines and masks, the duo inspired others. Stepping into his parent's shoes, son Saayan Kunal has joined hands for doing the greater good to humanity. Mrs Anita Kunal also educates slum children through innovative storytelling sessions every Saturday.
Disclaimer: The Times Alternative Career Survey 2021 for the East region has been conducted by Avance Field & Brand Solutions LLP using the stated methodology for arriving at given research. B-309/2, Avance House, Chhattarpur Extension, New Delhi, Delhi 110002; manoj@avance-india.in. This article has been produced on behalf of the Times Alternative Career Survey by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.