STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today made a compelling call for launching a StartUp awareness campaign across Jammu & Kashmir, stressing the need to inform and empower the region’s youth about the multitude of government schemes and incentives rolled out by the Modi Government over the past 11 years.
Speaking at the Lead Impact Conclave in Jammu, Dr. Singh highlighted a prevalent myth that StartUps are exclusive to metro cities, clarifying that nearly 50% of India’s StartUps originate from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns.
However, he expressed concern that Jammu does not currently figure among these contributing regions, and questioned why the youth in J&K are not availing themselves of the same online-accessible opportunities that are benefiting others nationwide.
Dr. Singh urged the organization of workshops and use of social media to promote StartUp schemes among the youth and emphasized the need to move beyond the traditional ‘Sarkari Naukri’ mindset.
He said that StartUps today represent a sustainable and lucrative career path, with many young entrepreneurs earning lakhs while also generating employment for others.
Highlighting the StartUp ecosystem in India, Dr. Singh shared that the country now hosts over 1.7 lakh StartUps, ranking third globally.
Remarkably, over 60,000 of these ventures are led by women, showcasing the inclusive growth of the sector. He cited the ‘Purple Revolution’ in J&K-a successful agri-StartUp model centered on lavender cultivation-as a transformative initiative that has inspired states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Dr. Singh also spotlighted key government initiatives like Mudra Yojana, PM SvaNidhi Yojana, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana, which aim to financially support small enterprises, street vendors, and traditional artisans. He urged entrepreneurs to also explore opportunities in the Khadi sector, which is being actively promoted under the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign.
Calling for greater collaboration between academia and industry, Dr. Singh emphasized the need for future-relevant research, especially in bio-driven technologies such as biofuels and genetically modified crops. He said that these would play a pivotal role in India’s self-reliant future.
Dr. Singh said the youth will be at the forefront of a developed India by 2047 and noted that the recently implemented National Education Policy is designed to equip them with the skills necessary for global leadership.