Uttarakhand CM Rolls Out Startup Yatra Intending To Register 200 Startups In 2 Years

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Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat rolled out the ‘Uttarakhand Startup Yatra’ on 3 April, with the aim of fostering the startup ecosystem in the state and subsequently empower the budding entrepreneurs in the state as per media reports. The Startup Yatra aims at registering  200 new startups in the coming two years.


 


The yatra, on a van, will cover 22 colleges with experts onboard. They will be looking out for talents to provide incubation so as to set up under the Startup India scheme.

CM Rawat is hopeful about the Startup Yatra and wishes that it garners the right amount of media exposure so that it serves the purpose.

He said,

“I hope after their selection during the  month-long yatra the local entrepreneurial talents will be provided all support and proper ecosystem by officials to help them set up their business ventures.”

The CM also unveiled a Startup Policy, 2018 and asked officials to prepare an action plan so that entrepreneurial talents “would feel encouraged to launch startups based on natural resources the hill state is richly” endowed with.

He believes that this system would help the local youth, which comprises about 57.5% of the state’s population, to set up their startups and would also help to solve the problem of unemployment in the hills.

CM Rawat revealed that Uttarakhand is among the front-ranking states on the ‘ease of doing business’ parameters and has further improved its position.


How will this work?

Manish Rai of Shrofile, a technological partner of Startup India, said that while visiting the colleges, experts will pose three questions to students and the answers will be recorded. A panel will then select startups based on these answers.

The selected aspiring entrepreneurs would be given Rs. 5 lakh each by the state government. 

Rai also added,

“For such prospective entrepreneurs the Centre has also set aside a fund of ₹10,000 crore, which will be distributed among them depending upon the requirement of their start-ups.”

The Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, Utpal Kumar Singh said that an effective response system should be set in place for queries and grievances of entrepreneurs. He also suggested that the ‘Startup Yatra’ should be taken to all parts of the state including the smaller towns and rural areas.

The Principal Secretary MSME, Manisha Panwar said that one-day boot camps in eight colleges and institutes of the state would be held during the course of the Yatra. The department has taken a target to provide benefit to 4000 youths directly and 20000 youths indirectly with the startups.


Other initiatives to develop the startup ecosystem

The startup ecosystem is flourishing in India and promises a lot to young entrepreneurs. The startups might turn out to be the solution to the growing problem of unemployment in the country. The central government with its scheme of ‘Startup India’ is sure to bring about a change.

Recently, the state government of Goa mentioned that the incentives under the startup policy had been finalized and they have been sent for cabinet approval. The policy promises of massive subsidies and incentives for startups.The biggest showstopper, however, is a one-time grant of Rs 10 lakh to a startup that promises a minimum viable product.

Uttar Pradesh has started a startup programme named INFUSE model (INcubators – FUnd of Funds – Startup Entrepreneurs). The state government will be providing a number of incentives to incubators, startups, and investors funding UP-based startups. The policy will provide startups with the necessary lands at cheaper rates and help set up industrial parks and estates of over 20 acres.

Punjab state government has proposed a state-of-the-art incubation centre at Mohali under the Startup Hub Initiative. This policy will cater to startups based on hardware, manufacturing, and related startups.

Off late, Odisha has also joined the camp as the cabinet of Odisha led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved a series of incentives to ensure that at least 33 % of the startups with founders and co-founders as women emerge in the state.

Bihar has also followed suit and opened up a startup hub in the state capital.

All these initiatives are sure to boost up the startup culture in the country and encourage more entrepreneurs.


Also Read: Kerala State Govt To Make Its Space-Tech Dreams Come True In Collaboration With ISRO