By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 6 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a “Start-up Grand Challenge” programme organised by the State Industries Department at a hotel on Haridwar Road, here, today. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also felicitated 10 entrepreneurs for their achievements.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM reiterated that the incentive given as “Idea Great Challenge” under Start-up Uttarakhand has been increased from Rs 50 thousand to Rs 2 lakhs. He added that the monthly allowance given to start-ups for one year has been increased from Rs 10 thousand to Rs 15 thousand. He also announced that the monthly allowance given to SC, ST, Divyang (specially-abled) and women entrepreneurs has also been increased from Rs 15 thousand at present to Rs 20 thousand.
The Chief Minister also released the Wellness Report prepared by Invest India on the occasion.
Dhami declared, “The State Government is continuously encouraging the youth to be innovative in their work and their ideas. Since 2014, innovation has been seen in every area of the country due to special efforts in this direction made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Entrepreneurs working in the country have been encouraged through various schemes like Start-up India, Skill India and Make in India.” The CM added, “The start-ups whose identity and recognition at present are restricted to the regional and district levels will also make their mark at the national and international levels in the coming days. This would be the result of their hard work. Patience and farsightedness make a person a karma yogi.”
Dhami reminded that Uttarakhand is the centre of religion and spirituality. So far, this year, more than 34 lakh pilgrims have already visited the Char Dham. Now, the Kanwar Yatra will also begin in the state, he pointed out, and urged that all the Shiva devotees coming to Uttarakhand ought to plant a sapling here. He asserted that, after three years, when Uttarakhand would be completing the journey of 25 years of its formation as a state, it would lead in several spheres because of the work being done at present. Seeking everyone’s cooperation in development of Uttarakhand, the CM reminded that the state belongs to every resident and everyone has a role to play in its overall development. He claimed that a new work culture has been introduced in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Uttarakhand, too, the government is working to improve the work culture in the state.
The Chief Minister added that efforts have been made by the state government to increase employment opportunities through various schemes, while the start-up policy has been implemented with the aim of converting innovative ideas into enterprises and giving a positive direction to the creativity of the youth. Through this policy, an attempt has been made to create a start-up ecosystem by motivating the youth towards employment generation. The state government is trying to promote entrepreneurship from the college level through its start-up policy.
Also present on this occasion were MLA Vinod Chamoli, Secretary, Industries, Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Director General/Commissioner, Industries, Ranveer Singh Chauhan, Chairman of TIE, Dehradun, Prakash, Director, Industries, Sudhir Chandra Nautiyal, Joint Director Shikhar Saxena, representatives of industrial institutions and entrepreneurs associated with start-ups.
