In his inaugural address, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh stressed that “Start-ups” with social entrepreneurship have a wider impact and that ideally, social enterprises cannot be excluded from the start-up ecosystem.
Referring to the “Start-up India, Stand-up India” plan announced by Prime Minister NarendraModi on 16th of last month, Dr Jitendra Singh said, a meaningful start up initiative should prove fruitful not only for its initiators, but should also be socially rewarding. He said, social enterprises in India are already engaged in following the complex social problems in diverse areas including health, education, energy, water and sanitation, agriculture, etc. and the new start-up initiatives can further supplement this process.
Hailing some of the incredible provisions in Prime Minister’s Start-up India declaration, Dr Jitendra Singh, in particular, referred to the provision of three months’ exit period during which a youngster will have the opportunity to decide whether to go ahead or to switch-over to some other alternative option without much liability. This, he said, will not only increase the risk taking capacity of the start-up initiative, but will also give the youth the confidence to persist with his initiatives without giving up.
In the context of Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that the Ministry of DoNER is contemplating the creation of a “Venture Fund” for start-ups as an added incentive for the youth to launch themselves in the North-Eastern States. This will particularly have a long term beneficial effect socially, economically and from point of view of employability, because in the years to come, the opportunities of “organic farming” and organic stratus are going to be available in the Northeast, more than any other part of the country, he added.
