Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, The Punjab government is all set to finalize and unveil a new inclusive policy boasting entrepreneurship and self employment in youth of Punjab after a daylong brain storming session at MGSIPA to be inaugurated by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab tomorrow (25-11-2014).
According to an official spokesperson the Government of Punjab has decided to organize a series of events aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and employment potential of Punjab’s youth in various fields. The first such event would be organized by Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA), Punjab in association with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
The spokesperson said that The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal who had been evincing a great interest in this subject will deliver the inaugural address at the event. The Chief Secretary, Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal would speak on the theme of self-employment and the strategies of the State Government in skill development and related fields.
The spokesperson said that it is for the first time that delegates from diverse fields including Self Help Groups (SHG); NGOs working in this area; successful entrepreneurs, particularly from the rural and small-scale sectors;Additional Deputy Commissioners, District Panchayat and Development Officers, District Animal Husbandry Officers, District Fisheries Development Officers, District Dairy Development Officers, District Poultry Development Officers, District Employment Generation Officers, General Managers/District Industry Centres, banking and finance professionals, research students and academics, Principals of ITIs from Punjab, Vice Chancellors of Universities in Punjab, Deputy Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries would be deliberating on this issue to have an inclusive policy on self employment and entrepreneurship.
Emphasizing on success stories in this field it was felt that Punjab is not short of innovators or enterprising individuals. He said that some success stories are well known, while others have yet to be chronicled. He informed that the self-employed individuals who would participate in this workshop are an interesting mix of sectors and specialties : organic farmers, dairy farmers, apiculturists, fish farmers, poultry breeders, floriculturists, agro-based industrialists, horticulturists, mushroom farmers, processors of oils and spices, computer coaching providers, weavers, handloom entrepreneurs, pickle and jam makers, home-based edibles manufacturers and the like.
Experts from fields such as agriculture, dairy research, fisheries, poultry, handicraft and home-based industries including Dr. A.K.Srivastava, Director, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Dr. P. Praveen, Principal Scientist, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, Kerala, Shri Naresh Gupta, Chief General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Chandigarh,Sister Pratibha Pandya, Member, Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Ahmedabad, Dr. Vaneeta Vishwanath, Advisor, Udyogini, New Delhi, Dr Suryamani Roul, Senior Vice President, ACCESS Development Services, New Delhi, Dr Rajesh Tiwari, Executive Director, State Disability Resource Centre, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Ms. Poonam Golani, Member, Industree Foundation, Bangalore (Mother Earth), Dr. K. Ravvi Kumarr, Director, Central Poultry Development Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India; and Shri Paramjit Singh, Principal Consultant, Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Sector – 35, Chandigarh have been invited to contribute in this first of its kind policy on self employment and entrepreneurship.
The spokesperson added that some of the issues likely to be addressed by speakers and participants during the discussions are : financing of self-employment ventures, bottlenecks in setting up small units and how to resolve them, skill gaps and how to overcome them, technical knowhow and mutual cooperation. In what ways can young people with or without a college degree equip themselves for the world of self-enterprise through innovation, skill development and collaboration? How are the ITIs gearing up for the challenge of preparing the youth of Punjab for a brighter future? Which are the government schemes available in this sphere? These and similar issues will be at the core of the deliberations at the workshop.
Spokesperson said that experts would share their perspectives and disseminate knowledge in the realms of self-employment, assets creation, skill development, capacity building, sustainable livelihoods, collaborative enterprise etc. in sectors as diverse as dairy, fisheries, poultry, banking, handloom and handicraft. He added that Interaction between experts and practitioners, NGOs, SHGs and youth will facilitate innovation and adoption of better practices. Partnerships between individuals and institutions can be explored. He said that the keenness of the Government of Punjab in promoting self-employment and skill development will be shared with participants and with all citizens through the media. He said that self-employment, skill development and entrepreneurship development will form an important component of MGSIPA’s programmes in future also. Content for such events will be designed based on experiences gathered during this event.
