Fostering Entrepreneurship: A Game-Changer for Northeastern Youth

A recent announcement has detailed plans to establish entrepreneurship development centres (EDCs) in more than 100 government-run skill training institutes in the Northeast region of India. These centres are designed to offer essential mentoring, support, and assistance to the region’s youth, with a particular focus on developing financial connections. The responsibility for setting up these centres in all 104 government-run Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and three National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) across the eight states in the region has been assigned to the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE).

This strategic initiative is part of the flagship central scheme ‘Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement’ (STRIVE), which is currently being implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The primary aim of this project is to establish a team of 107 trained mentors who will be stationed at the ITIs and NSTIs, acting as ‘change agents’ to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset among the youth, according to a recent statement.

The target audience for this programme consists of 29,500 students currently enrolled in ITIs and NSTIs across the eight states. In the initial stage, these students will participate in a two-day ‘entrepreneurship awareness programme’ (EAP). Following this, a select group of 14,000 students from the EAP programmes will undergo an intensive ‘entrepreneurship development programme’ (EDP).

Additionally, the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship in Guwahati will conduct a specially designed ‘faculty development programme’ (FDP) to train 107 faculty members from all the ITIs. The trained faculty members will then serve as entrepreneurship trainers and mentors in their respective institutes, continuing the impactful activities of the EDCs.

The primary objective of these EDCs is to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among the students of ITIs and NSTIs. This includes training students in various aspects of entrepreneurship, assisting them in establishing skill-based enterprises, facilitating the development of financial connections through various government schemes, and providing crucial support through mentorship. This comprehensive approach aims to equip the youth with the necessary skills and guidance to thrive in the entrepreneurial landscape.

This initiative not only demonstrates the government’s commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among the youth but also addresses the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the region. By offering comprehensive support and training, the establishment of EDCs is poised to be a game-changer for the youth of the Northeast, empowering them to realise their full potential as entrepreneurs in today’s dynamic economic landscape.