Sensitization workshop on Chief Minister Startup Scheme
A one-day workshop to sensitize budding entrepreneurs about the startup schemes of the Himachal Government under Chief Minister Startup Scheme was organized at the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni. The Incubation Center of the University in collaboration with the Department of Industries, Himachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh Center of Entrepreneurship Development (HPCED) organized the workshop.
The students of Business Management, Food Science and Technology and Social Science departments of the university attended the workshop. In his address, Dr Manoj Vaidya, UHF’s Joint Director (Research) gave a background of the various Incubation Centers established under the Chief Minister’s Startup/Innovation Projects/New Industries Scheme. He explained that the objective of the scheme is to transform educated youth from job seekers to job providers and give support to the ‘Startup and Innovation projects’ in the state.
Abul Hasan, a consultant for the HPCED in the project, explained the whole process of registering for the startup scheme and objectives behind the scheme. Neha Chauhan, Manager at the District Industries Centre, Solan apprised the students of the support provided by the state government for the setting up startups/new industries. Sahil Datta, an incubatee under the startup scheme, whose project for 100 per cent natural functional fruit juices was approved under the scheme, also shared his experiences with the participants. He will soon be launching his products under the brand name under ‘Praanic’. An ideation exercise was also carried out at the workshop where the students presented the innovative startup ideas.
The Chief Minister’s Startup scheme envisages practical exposure, orientation training, entrepreneurial guidance and handholding to potential entrepreneurs whose projects are approved. Once the project is recommended by the host institution and approved by the Empowered Committee, a monthly support of Rs. 25,000 is provided as sustenance allowance for a year. One such incubation Centre was established at UHF last year. The Incubation Centers support startups and innovation by providing mentoring services, access to their labs, facilities on a free-of-cost (FOC) basis.