‘JKEDI striving to create a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in J&K’

Pampore, Dec 31: Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) has had an eventful year in 2022, from going back to classroom Entrepreneurship Development Programmes to reaching out to aspiring entrepreneurs in remote areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Institute was inspired by the stories of passionate youth who are tomorrow’s change makers and champions.
This year the Institute welcomed a new Director, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat. He is an Indian Administrative Services officer with extensive experience and a willingness to try new things that have guided the Institute in a positive direction.
It was on the International Women’s day that the Institute started classroom training programs for the aspiring women entrepreneurs across the UT of J&K. These young female change makers were sponsored under the Tejaswani Self Employment Scheme of Mission Youth, Government of J&K. The Institute has trained and provided business development services to more than 5000 youth this year, each one of them leaving the classroom with ideas and solutions to tackle the problems of our society. Although they are planning to start a small business, their endeavor will help save society from unemployment’s cruel grip.
The Institute implements the term loan scheme of National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC), Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. The growth story of the scheme till now has created a remarkable impact on the far flung areas of the UT and helped low income groups in minority population to become self reliant and financially independent. Till now the Institute has successfully financed 6003 beneficiaries under this this scheme with a total project cost of more than 240 crores.
The Institute organized a number of workshops and entrepreneurship orientation programs. It started with an awareness workshop on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) organised in collaboration with the Office of the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks, Department for Promotion of Industry and International Trade(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. The Institute also conducted various entrepreneurship orientation programs for the school and college going students in every nook and corner of all the districts of J&K.
To promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the UT, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JKEDI in this year. The partnership will benefit all the stakeholders, especially the students from diverse regions of J&K. Google Developers Group, this year, organized a first ever ‘DevFest’ at Jammu in collaboration with the Institute. A number of technology speakers from all over the country participated in the event and provided a platform for local developers and students for related discussions.
The employees of the Institute also participated in flagship developmental programs of the J&K Government with full fervour this year. Back to Village (B2V4) and My Town My Pride programs need a special mention. The Director of the Institute himself led the campaign in Shadab Karewa, a remote village of Shopian district. This year the outreach programs of the Institute also saw a fillip. The journey from Covid-19 restrictions to organizing massive entrepreneurship awareness programs (EAP) in all the districts of the UT this year has been inspiring. Far Flung and tribal areas of the UT were also covered and senior officers including the Director of the Institute participated in these programs. The Institute has organized 146 EAPs and sensitized almost 11000 youth.
The district offices of the Institute were activated and dedicated counseling control rooms and startup cells were setup at every district centre so the youth can avail the services of the Institute. Youth can directly visit these centers for information and facilitation. In addition to this, they can email and post queries on Institute’s official social media outlets.
The Institute is the nodal agency for implementing Startup Policy of the Government. This year saw a series workshops and programs under this policy. The Institute is also reviewing and formulating new operating guidelines for this scheme, which will encourage new start-ups in J&K. The UT of J&K has been striving to create a vibrant ecosystem for sustainable startups that work on exponential technologies, developing solutions that address the problems of the society at large. A total of 89 startups are registered with the Institute. There are a number of facilities and incentives available for new startups at the Institute under this policy.
The Institute believes that sowing seeds of entrepreneurship at school level is very essential. To make this a reality in near future, the institute is underway is developing curriculum and syllabus for Entrepreneurship Training Courses for students of Higher Secondary schools across the UT. Steps are being taken to engage in academic collaborations with other universities and Institutes of national repute to start industry relevant courses for the students of the UT.
With JKEDI’s 360 degree support, it has created just the kind of opportunity for the growth of innovation, investment and entrepreneurship that the UT of J&K requires. The Institute, in the coming year, is thriving to make J&K as one of the optimal places to start a business in the country and create a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem and infrastructure. The youth can reach the counseling control rooms at these numbers: Kashmir (01933-222266/67), Jammu (01923-222416). The dedicated startup helpline can be reach at 9419216208 for Jammu and 8825014846 for Kashmir. Besides a dedicated email address ([email protected]) of the Institute is also open for the youth.