Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the need for a StartUp boost in Jammu & Kashmir to move away from the traditional “Sarkari Naukri” mindset. He made these remarks during the inauguration of the ‘Youth Conclave’ organized by CSIR-IIIM Jammu.
Dr. Singh acknowledged the ongoing StartUp revolution in India and highlighted the potential impediment posed by the preference for government jobs among the youth of Jammu & Kashmir. He expressed that the current generation of Indian youth has abundant aspirations and opportunities in the form of Start-ups, which are currently driving economic growth.
The Minister pointed out the remarkable growth in the number of Start-ups in India since 2014. There were only around 350 Start-ups before 2014, but after the launch of the Start-up scheme in 2016, the number has increased to over 1.25 lakh, with more than 110 Unicorns. In the Biotech sector alone, the number of Start-ups rose from 50 to 6,000 during the same period.
Dr. Singh also praised the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a revolutionary step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that the NEP complements the Start-Up ecosystem and creates new career and entrepreneurship opportunities for students and youth in India.
The Minister highlighted the various initiatives taken by the Modi government, such as the Start-up policy, Mudra Scheme, and PM SVANidhi, which have created lakhs of opportunities outside the government sector for the country’s youth. He further mentioned the unlocking of the space sector, which led to a significant increase in the number of Space Start-ups from 4 to 150.
Dr. Jitendra Singh commended CSIR-IIIM Jammu for its contribution to scientific research and innovation. The institute has a rich history, including the discovery of mint and pioneering the purple revolution in India.
Overall, the Minister emphasized the importance of embracing the Start-Up culture in Jammu & Kashmir to provide young individuals with a plethora of career options and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Sources:
– Jammu TNN