CM participates in Startup Dialogue Event
By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 27 Apr: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Startup Dialogue organised under the Mukhya Sevak Samvaad at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan, here, today. During the programme, he interacted with individuals promoting startups across the state and listened to their suggestions. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also released the book, “Unnat Uttarakhand”, and visited various stalls showcasing different startups.
The Chief Minister announced that the state government aims to establish one incubation centre in each district over the next five years, targeting the development of 1000 startups. Entrepreneurship-related courses have been introduced in universities and colleges, and a dedicated startup portal has also been launched. An Uttarakhand Venture Fund of Rs 200 crore has been created to support startups. The government is providing financial assistance, technical guidance, and infrastructure support to nurture the startup ecosystem in the state.
The Chief Minister urged the youth of Uttarakhand to come forward and launch startups, utilising the benefits of government schemes. He emphasised that youth should aim to become job creators rather than job seekers. He highlighted that a new work culture is emerging in the country, providing a platform for innovators to drive change and create employment opportunities for others. He added that Uttarakhand is progressing alongside the rest of the country in the startup sector.
The Chief Minister stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a global hub for startups. Initiatives like Startup India, Make in India, and RAMP have opened new avenues for youth. The Uttarakhand government has developed a robust ecosystem for startups and has implemented the Startup Policy 2023. Under this policy, seed funding grants of up to Rs 15 lakh and a monthly allowance of up to Rs 22,000 for early-stage startups are being provided.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the government is establishing Centres of Excellence to promote new startups. Existing incubation centres in the state are being linked with academic institutions. A world-class Uttarakhand Innovation Hub (U-Hub) is being established at IT Park, Dehradun, at a cost of Rs 60 crore to serve as the nodal incubation centre. Thanks to these efforts, over 1300 startups in Uttarakhand have been recognised by the Government of India, with 50% of them founded by women entrepreneurs. He emphasised that startups symbolise the power of new ideas, the courage to realise dreams, and a commitment to taking the country forward.
Shraddha Negi, founder of Design Studio, thanked the Chief Minister and highlighted how the state government is creating a new identity for startups. She mentioned her efforts to promote “Vocal for Local” and bring Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage to the global stage. She requested that local art, architecture, and crafts be included under the “One District One Product” initiative.
Kunal Uniyal from Integrated Maritime Exchange Pvt Ltd praised the government’s continuous support to startups and sought a policy on digital infrastructure and integration into state-level innovation missions. Vikas Shah of Pulx Motors shared his development of a high-performance electric bike suitable for Himalayan terrains and requested provisions for subsidies to support innovations from the early stages, along with tax relaxations. Babita Singh, founder of Himgrace Organics from Pithoragarh, spoke about her work with farmers in rural areas and requested special support for rural startups, along with ensuring the availability of basic infrastructure at startup locations.
Swarleen Kaur from Runway-UPES commended the excellent support provided through the Uttarakhand Venture Fund (UVI) and suggested integrating private incubators like Runway into government initiatives. Chandramani Kumar, founder of AgriJoy LLP, discussed his work in protected farming in the hill regions and requested free access to cold storage facilities for startup entrepreneurs.
The event was also attended by Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, Mandi Parishad Chairman Anil Dabbu, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretary (Industries) Vinay Shankar Pandey, Director General (Industries) Prateek Jain, Additional Directors Shikhar Saxena and Mrityunjay Singh, Joint Director Anupam Singh, Deepak Murari, and several other dignitaries.
