Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential: Government Institutes in Northeast to Establish Development Centres

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) has undertaken a momentous task by establishing entrepreneurship development centres (EDCs) in over 100 government-run skill training institutes across the Northeast. These centres are dedicated to providing assistance and guidance to the youth of the region, and will play a pivotal role in nurturing their entrepreneurial skills and establishing financial connections.

Operating under the central scheme ‘Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement’ (STRIVE), which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the project aims to train 107 mentors to act as ‘change agents’ within the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). These mentors will lead the entrepreneurial movement among students in the region.

The initiative is aimed at the 29,500 students currently enrolled in ITIs and NSTIs across the eight states in the Northeast. As part of the programme, these students will participate in a two-day ‘entrepreneurship awareness programme’ (EAP), followed by a more intensive ‘entrepreneurship development programme’ (EDP) for 14,000 selected individuals. Additionally, faculty members from the ITIs will undergo a comprehensive ‘faculty development programme’ (FDP) conducted by the IIE in Guwahati. These trained faculty members will then act as entrepreneurship trainers and mentors in their respective institutes, ensuring the sustainable operation of the EDCs.

The overarching goal of the EDCs is to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset in ITI and NSTI students, while providing them with the necessary training to establish skill-based enterprises. Furthermore, the centres will assist in facilitating financial linkages through various government schemes, and offer ongoing mentoring support to the budding entrepreneurs.

The establishment of these EDCs signifies a significant advancement in unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of the region’s youth and fostering a culture of innovation and economic development. With the appropriate guidance and support, aspiring entrepreneurs in the Northeast will be empowered to pursue their business endeavours and contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of the region.