Garhwal Post Bureau
Pithoragarh, 17 Jun: It is often said that when determination is strong and the desire to move forward is unwavering, every goal becomes achievable. This saying has been brought to life by Mansi Kapri, a BBA student of Laxman Singh Mahar Government Postgraduate College, Pithoragarh, who has successfully transformed her artistic passion into a promising entrepreneurial venture.
Mansi’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2024 when she participated in a two-day bootcamp under the Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Scheme (DUY), an ambitious initiative jointly implemented by the Higher Education Department, Government of Uttarakhand, and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad. Since 2023, the scheme has been operating across 119 government colleges and five universities in the state, with the objective of transforming campuses into hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship.
From a young age, Mansi had a keen interest in Uttarakhand’s traditional Aipan art and enjoyed creating intricate and attractive designs. However, until then, it remained only a hobby. The DUY bootcamp provided her with valuable insights into how a skill, craft, or personal interest could be transformed into a viable business and source of livelihood.
During the bootcamp, Mansi presented her Aipan-based venture as a business idea. Using the Business Model Canvas framework, she developed a structured business plan and delivered an impressive presentation before the selection panel. Her innovative concept and clear vision earned her a place in the 12-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP).
Through the training, Mansi gained in-depth knowledge of branding, packaging, labelling, social media marketing, online product sales, Udyam registration, marketing management, and various aspects of business operations. Drawing upon the skills acquired during the programme and under the mentorship of Dr Ruchita Panghuria, she launched her enterprise, “Homies Vibes”.
Her efforts received significant recognition when her venture was awarded a seed fund of Rs 75,000 during the Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Startup Mega Event held in February 2025. She utilised this financial support to expand her business, develop new products, and strengthen marketing activities.
Today, Mansi’s enterprise stands as a successful example of connecting Uttarakhand’s traditional Aipan art with contemporary markets. She currently sells Aipan-based products worth approximately Rs 80,000 annually and continues to expand her customer base. Her success demonstrates that with proper guidance, training, and opportunities, young women from the hills can become self-reliant and establish new benchmarks in entrepreneurship.
The Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Scheme (DUY) is an ambitious initiative of the Higher Education Department, Government of Uttarakhand, aimed at fostering entrepreneurial thinking among young people and encouraging them to become job creators rather than job seekers. Launched in September 2023, the five-year programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad.
Under the scheme, higher educational institutions across the state are being developed as centres of innovation and entrepreneurship. The initiative promotes innovation-driven enterprises in twelve key sectors, including agriculture, handicrafts, manufacturing, AYUSH and aromatics, tourism, agro-processing, heritage management, logistics, Internet of Things (IoT), drone technology, renewable energy, and solar energy.
Students participating in the programme receive access to orientation sessions, entrepreneurship bootcamps, entrepreneurship development training, expert mentoring, market linkages, branding and packaging support, and seed funding opportunities. Through these interventions, thousands of students have taken steps toward transforming their business ideas into successful enterprises.
The scheme is also strengthening Uttarakhand’s long-term entrepreneurial ecosystem through faculty training programmes and the establishment of Centers of Excellence. Today, the Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Scheme is emerging as a remarkable model of innovation, self-reliance, and local economic development in Uttarakhand.
“Our government’s goal is to empower young people not merely to seek employment but to become creators of employment. Through the Devbhoomi Entrepreneurship Scheme, we are fostering a culture of entrepreneurship within higher educational institutions. By promoting enterprises based on local resources and traditional knowledge, particularly in mountainous regions, we are creating new livelihood opportunities and helping address the challenge of migration from rural areas,” said CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.
