Capitalising and Enterprising Leisure in Lockdown.

"Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life." -   Ralph Waldo Emerson

A clear blue sky, a mug of coffee and a good read are all that are desired for in today’s hectic lifestyle. Besides all the panic, everyone felt a bit relieved from the daily workload; running through the deadlines, the honks of the cars and the redness of eyes after March 2020 snapped at the nation with a widespread lockdown. 

Although this situation was incredibly bizarre to register initially, everyone did find themselves eventually reading a good book next to their window with a mug of Dalgona. Sipping away from the honks and hangs, off the customary routine, it was astonishing to see that the horses were no longer running a race for success. Instead, people all around the country finally commenced 'living’ instead of merely surviving. 

Innumerable people who had cut themselves from the outer world, solely dedicated to their careers were seen to be on a reconnection spree, filling the void they always had. Not just that, people got back in touch with their long lost hobbies and were finally chasing the activities that they always wanted to cherish but could not. It was quite remarkable to see people replenishing their Instagram feed with art, music and business ideologies. This unparalleled liberty allowed several artists and entrepreneurs to enterprise their talents. 

Amidst the lockdown, many small businesses gained profits, meanwhile, many businesses that were put up online got recognised digitally resulting in a wider reach. The Vocal for Local Campaign introduced by the Government of India also catalysed the growth of these businesses significantly. India's stride towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat was hence, supported by all these businesses who are striving for self-reliance. 

It was the rise of such business models that widely encouraged and promulgated skill development. One such initiative that was introduced a few years ago by Enactus DSC is Project Anmol, an innovative initiative for the deemed misfits of the society that intents to draw parallels between the prevalent disparities. 

The project aims to buoy up the indigent segments and strives to raise the spirits of the destitute and the shunned youth of the country by equipping them with a multifaceted skill-set through a holistic training procedure; allowing them to be efficient and self-reliant. This strengthens them with a chance to mend their ways; offering them an opportunity to contribute to their family's income, henceforth sowing the seeds of entrepreneurial spirit. 

Social media platforms also played a vital role as people capitalised from leisure. Features like "support small businesses" on Instagram drew an extensive engagement to countless pages, thus, allowing them to expand their base. The compassionate story of 'Baba Ka Dhaba' is just another supporting instance. 

Leisure and Entrepreneurship inevitably dissuaded us in overlooking the negative impacts of the lockdown. Nonetheless, even though catastrophe seems never-ending even after 7 months, everyone has had their own set of experiences and the beauty of finding oneself might have been the best out of them.