SVKM, since the year 1997-98, we have set up before us some objectives and aims, which we have been trying to reach. It would be pertinent to mention the same in brief as follows:

1. Upgradation of existing and addition of new courses and faculties of studies, wherever possible.

2. Improvement in infrastructure and environment to act as stimulus for growth of quality education.

3. Streamlining the decision making processes at the management level through the advice of expert committees and / or through expertise available from the members of the Managing / Executive Committee in respect of construction, major repairs and renovation works, purchase and supply of quality equipment and material for our institutions.

4. Ensuring transparency and control over the working of our institutions including their accounts through the use of automation and connectivity of the institutions with the management.

5. Support and encouragement to extra curricular activities in the matter of sports, drama, debating, etc. through student forums, seminars, symposia and ensuring student participation in various competitions organized not only by their institutions but also by other institutions. Paragraphs below describe the progress made in these directions and especially in the various spheres of activities during the year 2002-2003.

1. (a) Upgradation and addition of courses
The D.J. Sanghvi College of Engineering with only four disciplines in the year of its inception (i.e.1994- 95) is at present a full-fledged Engineering College catering to seven important disciplines including Information Technology, Computer Engineering and Electronics & Telecom Engineering. The College has now been permitted by the University to enroll 10 students for M.Sc. (by research) in the subject of Analytical Chemistry. The College has applied to the AICTE, the University of Mumbai and the Government of Maharashtra for increase in the intake of students in Electronics Engineering from 60 to 120. It has also applied to these authorities for permission to start two new courses of 9 studies namely
(1) Master of Computer Application (MCA) with an intake of 60 students and
(2) M.E. (Electronics Engineering) with an intake of 25 students. As soon as the permission from the authorities is received these courses will be started.

Given the popularity of the BMS Course at our Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, three more divisions were added in the first year BMS class in June-July 2002. This has raised the student intake for the BMS Course from 60 to 240.
At the Mithibai College of Arts, Chauhan Institute of Science and Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics, the B.Sc. course in Biotechnology has been started from July 2002 with an intake of 35 students. The College has applied for increase in the number of seats from 35 to 60.

We have also applied to the University for registration of the M.Sc. Course in Computer Science at the Mithibai College. The College has received permission from the University to enroll 5 students for Ph.D. by Research in the subjects of Physical Chemistry, Microbiology and Zoology. At the SBM Polytechnic, a full time Diploma Course in Information Technology of three years duration with an intake of 40 students has been started during the year 2002-2003. The course has received a good response from the students. The institution-wise strength of students and staff both teaching and non-teaching is shown in Annexure IV to the Report.

(b) Establishment of new institutions
We had applied to the authorities concerned for starting and affiliation of new institutions as mentioned below:
(i) An independent college teaching the following courses:
(a) Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) with an intake of 240 students i.e. 4 divisions of 60 each.
(b) Bachelor of Media Management (BMM) with an intake of 120 students i.e. 2 divisions of 60 each.
(c) Bachelor of Science (IT) with an intake of 120 students i.e. 2 divisions of 60 each.
(ii) A Degree College in Pharmacy
(iii) A Diploma Institute offering a two-year course in Pharmacy on the SBM Polytechnic premises.
(iv) A Five Year Degree College of Law.
We hope that we shall receive the necessary permissions for starting the new institutions/
courses proposed also so as to provide multi-faceted courses of education to deserving students seeking admissions to the SVKM institutions.
We have since received the necessary permission for starting the new College for BMS, BMM and B.Sc. (IT) from the authorities concerned. Though the permission was received a bit late i.e. July 2003, we have started the F.Y. Classes of this College from September 2003. The College has been named as Usha Pravin Gandhi of Management thanks to the magnificent donation offered by Shri Pravin H. Gandhi, our Vice President. FSI of approx. 63000 sq. ft. is available and permission for further 50000 sq. ft. is in process for constructing institutions at (i) (ii) and (iv) above. We hope that we shall receive the necessary permissions for starting the other new institutions also so as to provide multi-faceted courses of education to deserving students seeking admission in SVKM institutions.

2. Streamlining the decision making process
The management has to supervise and control the working of various institutions run by it. With large construction / repairs and renovation projects under way, close supervision has to be exercised in the matter of assigning the contracts for construction / repair / renovation works after inviting proper tenders / quotations in respect of equipment, furniture and fixtures to be supplied by them. This requires almost day-to-day supervision and a close watch so as to ensure that quality work/
material goes into all these projects. For this purpose various committees have been constituted consisting of members of the Executive / Managing Committee who possess the requisite expertise and experience in the field. It is through the advice of these committees that the projects are executed and supervised at almost every stage and completed in record time. Mention may be made here particularly of the Construction Committee which looks after the construction of projects, Interior and Renovation Committee, Tender and Purchase Committee which looks after the quality and supply of material and equipment to the institutions and the Accounts, Finance and Computerization Committee which oversees the accounts of all the institutions. There is also a Sports Committee that oversees the sports activities of all the institutions and arranges an annual Mega Sports Festival where all SVKM institutions participate with their students and staff. The Committee also arranges
vacation-coaching camps to encourage the potential of students in Volleyball, Basketball, Table Tennis and Athletics. Apart from these committees, there are expert committees consisting of members of the Executive and Managing Committee who periodically meet and review the requirements of the institutions and recommend measures for their improvement, where ever necessary. Their recommendations have been very useful to the management in implementing and monitoring various projects.

3. Transparency and control in the matter of accounts
Various measures have been taken to ensure transparency, internal control and systems in respect of accounts and finance of the Mandal. The structure that has evolved provides for a very strong assistance to the Managing Committee in the matters of accounts and finance by.

* Accounts, Finance and Computerization Committee comprising of three practicing chartered
accountants and an experienced industrialist.

* Full time Chief Financial Officer, who is a Chartered and Cost Accountant, with corporate
experience, appointed at the Mandal Office during the year under report.

* Two Financial Controllers, also chartered accountants with corporate experience, appointed recently
to look after key institutions of the Mandal.

* Five firms of professional chartered accountants engaged as internal auditors to cover all the
institutions of SVKM.

* Statutory Auditors M/s.Kishore A. Parikh & Co.

* Ernst and Young, one of the top five audit and consultancy firms worldwide appointed for systems audit.
Such elaborate measures are seldom seen in commercial establishments; leave alone in Trusts.

4. Support and encouragement to extra curricular activities
No education imparted at the primary, secondary and graduate level is complete without the involvement of students at each stage in extra curricular and / or co-curricular activities. The institutions have been encouraged to ensure maximum participation of students at the various competitions held at the Zonal, District / University and State levels in the matter of sports and cultural activities.The detailed accounts of their activities are given in their individual reports appended to this report. But
at the management level thanks to the initiative taken by our late President Shri Mukeshbhai Patel we have been arranging an annual Mega Sports festival since 2001-2002 wherein the students, teaching and non-teaching staff are encouraged to fully participate. We are happy to state that the festival organized in December 2002, dedicated to the memory of late Shri Mukeshbhai Patel, evoked a spontaneous response from nearly 2500 participants belonging to all our institutions. A rotating trophy Mukeshbhai R. Patel Championship Cupí will be awarded to the institute earning the highest number of points in aggregate in various events. The festival has proved to be a cementing force that creates a bond of belonging among the students and the teaching faculty not only of their own institute but also among the fraternity of students and teachers of all SVKM institutions. Looking at the response received for the Sports Festival, the possibility of having a Cultural Festival for participation by all students / staff members of our institutions to exhibit their talents will also be explored in due course. The Sports Committee also arranges coaching camps during vacations to encourage and hone the potential skills of students so that they can participate in District, State / University and International events and breast the tape with honors.