REPORT ON BUISNESS IN AND AROUND VIT UNIVERSITY

Project submitted for the partial fulfilment of the course ENG 101(PBL), slot A1 year 2013

Submitted by:

Nagarjun B.R (13BEC0073)

Akash Gupta (13BCE0726)

Snehal. A (13MSE0208)

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

We, the following mentioned members of ENG 101(PBL) slot A1 year 2013 certify that the information and the data presented here have been cited in proper places and have acknowledged the sources, what we have taken into account. Hence we take full responsibility for the material presented here.

Nagarjun.B.R (13BEC0073)

Akash Gupta (13BCE0726)

Snehal. A (13MSE0208)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are very thankful to our respectable English professor Mr Sandip Sarkar for sustained encouragement and support without which this project would not have seen the light of the day. Sandip Sir provided us with constant guidance and helped us to solve many of our difficulties.

We also particularly would like to thank all the respondents to the survey conducted for study, for their patience and co-operation with us.

We are also thankful to our family and friends for their support and motivation during the course of the project.

INDEX

I. Abstract……………...........................01II. Introduction……………………………..02III. Methodology…………………………….03IV. Results……………………………………05V. Discussion

& future direction………………………11VI. Conclusion……………………………….15

REPORT ON BUSINESS IN AND AROUND

VIT UNIVERSITY

ABSTRACT

Every academic institution has a vast domain of business attached to it which is solely dependent on the institution itself. The basis of this project is to get a detailed study upon the various business activities taking place in and around the VIT University and the factors influencing their business and their effect on the daily life of the students & members of the University. The survey was conducted for about one and a half week during the month of August, 2013. The data was collected through personal interviews and websites. As per the data collected the details of quality of services provided along with the response it received from the correspondents has been discussed. Along with that the scope of employment in each businesses and their income per day is revealed and a good amount of discussion has been made regarding the socio-economical-conditions of these businesses.

KEYWORDS: Businesses, effects on students, influencing factors, employment, income.

INTRODUCTION

VIT University commonly known as Vellore Institute of Technology is located in Vellore, in Tamil Nadu. VIT has consolidated its disciplines in nine schools of study and is frequently ranked as one of the top technological research universities in India.

VIT provides many facilities and amenities for students in the hostels and even day scholars who stay in nearby localities. The university provides its students with canteen & mess facilities, stationary & cyber café, ATM, restaurants, laundry, multi-purpose shopping mall, etc. But the facilities are not limited to the ones provided by VIT inside the campus. The small scale and large scale business establishments in and around the university are not only helpful for the students but the establishments are facilitated by the university thereby increasing their daily business and profit levels, many people are being employed in these shops or establishments therefore providing them with a source of income for their livelihood. These establishments provide a comfortable environment to prosper. Hence we will be discussing about the mutual relationship between the university and the businesses taking place in and around it.

METHODOLOGY

This section presents the comprehensive view of the methodology adopted for the present investigation undertaken to know the types of business, the factors influencing their daily incomes, customer reviews of the facilities provided, purchase or usage patterns, etc.

Description of study area

VIT Vellore campus located in a town called Katpadi (Vellore district), it is 130km west of Chennai and 180km east of Bangalore. The nearest airport is located in Chennai. Vellore is famous for its forts, temples, the CMC college and hospital, and for VIT university. The surroundings of the university which is vastly populated with shops, commercial establishments, restaurants and some miscellaneous shopping places and other minor business activities will be our core topic of surveying.

Collection of Data

To evaluate the objectives of the study, the data was collected from primary as well as secondary sources.To study the usage of the business in and around the university random sampling technique was adopted.

Primary data

The data required for the study was collected from selected respondents by personal interview method using well-structured schedule. Information on the following aspects were collected

General information about the respondents business, social and economical conditions regarding their business, their incomes.

Information regarding the usage patterns of these facilities by the university people and students.

Satisfaction level of the respondents present condition and the fluctuations in their daily business.

The total number of employments provided by them and if it is a commercial or miscellaneous shop the types of goods they sell, etc.

Secondary dataThe secondary data about the location and other details about the study area were collected from the university website. The survey was undertaken during the month of September, 2013.

RESULTS

The results of the study are presented under following headings.

Details about the type of business and services offered. Employment details and the daily income. Social and economical issues regarding the business. Respondents reviews about the services. Factors influencing in the fluctuation in the business.

Details of type of business and services offered.

The business taking place inside and around VIT university can be broadly classified into many types. As per the data collected business establishments and activities are as follows.

The food which is essential on daily basis is provided through canteens, food courts, restaurants, small stalls in and around the college. Some examples include the university canteen, the food courts in two academic blocks of SJT and TT. The nescafé stalls all around the campus, some restaurants outside the university include- Taj pandhi biryani, Crisp n Cream, Big chick, Punjabi daba, café coffeeday , dawn bakery, etc.

The transportation facility provided to travel inside and outside the university also is a big business. Some

transport means adopted in the college are auto-rickshaws, shuttle cabs which were introduced in the college recently during the month of August, 2013.

Stationary and Xerox shops, shops with colour printouts and cyber café proves to very useful in an academic institution. Some stores such as Balagi book stores, Master Xerox, some small Xerox shops in each academic buildings.

Commercial shops selling electronic and digital products such as the Samsung smart phones store outside the university. Even electronic gadgets repair shops are also available.

Garments showrooms such as the VIT sovenier shop, Boy’s fashion fit, Derby showrooms etc. are available

The branches of banks inside and outside the campus such as The City Union Bank(CUB) and The Indian Bank. Many ATM’s are situated all around the college campus.

The beauty salon’s such as Bright and White, Naturals, Eagle’s unisex salon. Many fancy item stores like the Ellora’s etc.

Some miscellaneous shops or multipurpose shopping destination such the All-mart of VIT which sells all commercial products, domestic goods, cosmetics, food, utilities, etc.

Employment details and daily income

When it comes to the employment of people in the various business activities and the daily income they get from them is as follows, from the data obtained during the survey.

1. For transportation purposes inside the campus auto-rickshaws and cabs are used. Even for outside transportation auto-rickshaws are used, there are around 2-3 shuttle cabs and around 20-25 auto-rickshaws functioning. As per the survey the average daily income of an auto driver is around Rs800-900.

2. Food

TT food court has three fast-food centres and an air-conditioned room with tables and chairs to sit and dine. It employs 7-8 cooks, 4 members to maintain the billing section and 9-10 members for maintenance purpose. We can get all kinds of food like Chinese, North Indian, South Indian food and all kinds of beverages and juices & bakery items. It makes an income of about Rs10000-12000 per day.

SJT canteen has about 9-10 members employed and its income per day is around Rs9000-10000.

The VIT canteen near the gate 4 has employed around 14 members and makes an income of Rs9000 per day.

The campus has many Nescafé joints which sell snacks and beverages like variety of coffee and tea. Their average income per day is around Rs1500-2000. Throughout the university there are 4 Nescafé joints present.

The Punjabi daba and the Taj pandhi biryani outside VIT campus has employed around 6-7 members and earns an income of Rs5000-6000 per day.

Café coffee day and Nest Restrow are fast-food destinations and have employed around 5-6 members and their income is around Rs2500 and Rs1900 per day respectively.

3. Many other business for the personal maintenance of the students also are present such as.

The Eagles unisex salon has 4 members employed and earns an income of Rs900 per day. The Bright and White salon located outside the campus is well maintained and has 5-6 members employed and its per day income is around Rs2000.

The power laundry situated inside the VIT men’s hostel area proves to be very useful for the students to give their cloths for washing periodically. It has about 6 employees and earns as much as Rs2500 per day.

The Dolphins laundry outside the campus which was recently started has only 3 members and their income per day is Rs1500.

There are also many small cell-phone recharge shops, which makes up to Rs1500 per day.

4. The various stationary and Xerox shops, the miscellaneous

shopping places such as.

The Balaji books and stationary shop adjacent to the Technology Tower (TT) has many collections of study materials and basic stationary materials required for the students, it also sells magazines and some basic electronic gadgets. There about 5 employees and they get Rs5000-6000 as per day income. The Master Xerox outside the VIT campus has the photocopy of all the study materials and text-books required by the students, and are sold in a reasonable price.

Only two of them own the shop and an amount of Rs1500-2000 is earned per day.

There many other bookstores which sell the second hand books and study materials outside VIT.

5. Shopping complex and garments

All-mart outside VIT is one of the miscellaneous store where all the products like households, sanitary, cosmetics, basic utilities, fruits & vegetables, snacks & eatables are sold under this one roof. There are about 14-16 members working in All-mart and an income of Rs12000-15000 is earned by them per day.

The VIT Sovenier shop sells clothing’s, momentums, gym suits etc. It makes an income of Rs2500 per day and only 3 members are employed in it.

The ENZO located inside the VIT men’s hostel area and is an all in one store in which products like snacks, stationaries, healthcare products, cosmetics, beverages, etc. It makes an income of Rs5000-6000 per day and around 5 men are employed in it.

6. Banks and ATM’s

The Banks present in VIT are “The Indian Bank” and “The City Union Bank”. The ATM’s of these banks are present all around the campus and in front of every academic block. Around 9 members are employed in each Banks.

RESPONDENTS REVIEW ABOUT THE SERVICES

When the users of the services such as students, faculties and other university member were asked about their opinion on the various facilities provided by the business activities, we get a positive feedback on the reasonable prices, the quality and the quantity, the benefits etc. When asked about the food as per data collected- the day-scholars and faculty members consume food in and outside the college on daily basis, usually the hostellers eat their food in the respective messes but occasionally eat food in canteens and restaurants such as during the weekends and during any no-instruction days.Usually the hostellers always preferred to give their clothes to the laundry rather than washing it themselves due to their lack of time. The clothes given in laundry is delivered fast and is washed properly as per their needs.All the stationary required for the technical study is available in the shops hence meets the student’s needs

FACTORS INFLUENCING FLUCTUATION IN THE

BUSINESS

The business activities are always not stable in and around the university due to many factors like:

During the weekends the business is more than usual as they get a weekend break and would like to go out and eat.The business hits a high during the season of counselling and admissions every year during the months of April-May.There are many events held in VIT like The Gravitas and Rivera which increases their businessDuring the winter and summer break the business almost declines to very low.The business gets less even during the examinations.

When there is a break of more than 3 days most of the students living close-by leave to their hometowns and the business here at VIT decreases.

DISCUSSION AND FUTURE DIRECTION

The results of the investigation presented in the previous section are being discussed in this portion.

As per the data collected and the results obtained we can discuss them in the following headings.

The reason behind these business activities. The factors influencing the fluctuation in business. Employment and income details.

THE REASON BEHIND THESE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

VIT University has a campus which covers a vast area of about 350+ acres and the time and energy to reach different academic buildings in the university is high, this situation has promoted to the growth in the transportation business like the auto-rickshaws and most recently the shuttle cabs. Even though the college bus facility is provided, it sometimes becomes very crowded and hence promoting students to use other alternatives for transportation. This business provides employment to many

uneducated lower middle class people and serves as their only means of survival.

Even though the VIT hostels provide the hostellers with mess food they usually tend eat outside due to many reasons or due to disliking of mess foods. As per the results it is clear that the day-scholars and other university workers eat in canteens, restaurants etc. The students in VIT are from different backgrounds hence they do not adjusted and they also get bored of it. Hence the students use the canteens and the food court available inside the campus .When it comes to the diners and food outlets outside there are plenty of options available as per ones budget and needs. The major outlets are Toms Diner, Chicken, BigChicks, BihariDhaba, Apna Bhaba, MCawys, Flo, Limyra and many more.

The requirements of students while studying like the books, stationaries, other technical stuff, electronic gadgets etc. are supplied by many book and stationary stores in and around VIT like the Balaji stores. Balaji store supplies all the manuals and records specially made for VIT curriculum. They gives attractive discounts to the students on purchase of books and notebooks.

Two branches of ALL MART both inside and outside provide almost everything that a student can demand for a comfortable life in hostel. These stores also cater to the staff and their families too

FACTORS INFLUENCING FLUCTUATION IN BUSINESS

As from the data collected and as mentioned in the above section it is clear that the business activities taking place is always not profitable and stable.During every weekends break the hostellers some of them go to their hometowns and most of them staying use the various facilities during the weekend and holidays thereby increasing the business, but when there is a break of more than 3-4 days majority of them leave VIT to their hometowns hence affecting the business here.Every year almost 6000 new students join VIT after writing the VITEEE exams, they get selected and come for counselling and for admission procedures, hence increases the business to a tremendous level in all means. The business usually hits a low during the period of examination as most of them spend time studying in their rooms and would not go out for anything, even during the winter and summer vacations more than 80% of the students will not be in the campus, hence affecting all business activities badly.The time when VIT conducts big events such as the Gravitas and the Rivera, many people from outside the college come from various places and would use many facilities such as the transportation, food, acomidation, and would buy basic utilities.

Hence from the above discussion it is clear that te routine of the students and the university greatly affects the business activities.

EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME DETAILS

From the previous section it is clear that due these business activities in and around the campus many people are benefitted and depend only on the college for their livelihood. There are more number of people employed in

canteens and restaurants, secondly in the miscellaneous shops like The All-Mart and the ENZO etc.Even the daily income is high in the business involving food and basic items such as stationaries and books. Xerox earn more due to the various assignments given to the students.

FUTURE DIRECTION

From the study till now it can be easily realised that the business in and around VIT University is only increasing in number as the students in the university increase every year. To meet with the demands of the students and to earn more profit existing establishments will expand and new outlets will increase in number. Though it provides with more employment to the lower middle class people, the business may come to saturation and competition between them will increase. Hence these factors may lead to heavy competition and decline in many business. Only the fittest could survive such situations.

CONCLUSION

The business establishments that prospering due to inflow of customers originating from VIT cater to people of all class and diverse cultures. These outlets provide every major and minor items and products that a student would require in an academic institution. Therefore every need of student is

taken care of without any difficulty. All this helps the students to get a more comfortable environment for academics. It is more than a give and take relationship, it is a mutual relationship in which both sides are benefitted. Students are provided a comfortable environment and these establishments do healthy business. In the coming years the businesses which are flourishing due to VIT will grow with steady pace catering to the members of this institution. Such is the case that these outlets have now become an

integral part of life at VIT.