Three days Workshop on “Rural Entrepreneurship and Rural Start-Ups”

17th - 19th February 2021

Department of Rural Development, NITTTR Chandigarh organized a three days Workshop on “Rural Entrepreneurship and Rural Start-Ups” from 17th February 2021 to 19th February 2021.  Two faculty members Ms. Neelam Bhardwaj, (MBA Department) and Mr. Chandan Choubey (ECE Department) of Dronacharya Group of Institutions, Greater Noida attended the workshop.

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan(UBA) is a flagship programme of MHRD, GoI with a vision to achieve the target of Unnat Bharat (Developed India) through the growth and development of villages.

Day 1
The inaugural speech was given by Dr. U. N. Roy, Professor and Head, Department of Rural Development. Dr. Roy told all technical and higher degree institutions, all other colleges and polytechnics working under central universities, UGC, AICTE, ICAR, ICMR will join hands together to actualize the mission. Each participating institute (PI) has developed a cluster of five villages in its vicinity with various technical interventions as per local requirements.

In second session Dr. U. N. Roy shared his views on Potential of Rural Entrepreneurship and Rural Development. He further discussed the need for rural entrepreneurship in employment generation, to reduce the disparities in rural and urban income, to promote balanced regional development and economic development in rural areas.  He also explained the advantages of Rural Industrial Projects and problems of rural entrepreneurship.

In the third session, Professor J. S. Saini discussed job scenario in various sectors in India and possible interventions in MSMEs to strengthen Indian economy. The MSME sector is vital for employment generation, as also for an economic recovery to sustain. Along with the employment incentive, the MSME sector has also been provided collateral free credit.

Day 2
On the second day, the first session was delivered by the Professor Jagveer Singh Rawat HAU, Hisar. He expressed his views on Rural Start Up under Dairy Farming in India: Successful Case Studies. The future of the Indian dairy industry depends on better efficiency to meet growing demand. However, it is also important that animal welfare is respected. Dairying has turned into an essential auxiliary wellspring of pay for a huge number of country families and has accepted a paramount part in giving work and salary.

In the second session Dr. H. S. Jwanda, Principal ITI, GNDP Ludhiana discussed Skills Training and Placement of Rural Youth of Punjab under CDTP Scheme and Other Government Schemes. He told in order to impart skill training and accomplish ground level physical delivery of new technologies at the doorsteps of the rural people, each identified Polytechnic shall establish Extension Centres in the nodal villages so that each centre covers at least a cluster of villages in its vicinity. These centres will act as an extension arm of the polytechnic and will provide skill training, repair and maintenance services and common six facilities for group enterprises, information sharing and hiring technical facilities of the Polytechnics under the scheme. NGOs, voluntary organizations, professional experts, village agencies, village panchayats/panchayat samitis, ITI’s and Senior Secondary School, Vocational Schools etc. should be involved in the establishment of Extension Centres.

In the third session Professor Joginder Singh Rohru discussed Organic Apple Cultivation and its Marketing. He shared his views that the steady increase in consumer demand for organic products during the past decade should be viewed as a promising opportunity for organic producers throughout the world. He added that increases in organic fruit production have been associated with improved pest management methods, the use of disease-resistant cultivars, and organic-focused marketing schemes.

Day 3
On the last day, the first session was delivered by Professor Hardip Singh Sura, Bugana, Hisar. He deeply focused on Farming Techniques and Agri–Inputs Production and Marketing: Experience of an Agri-Entrepreneurship. He told entrepreneurship is one of the key drivers for economic development increases. Agri-entrepreneurship in common language can be defined as sustainable, community-oriented, directly-marketed agriculture. It is beneficial combination of agriculture and entrepreneurship and convert your farm into an agribusiness. This association of agriculture and business promotes agri-entrepreneurs who innovate, identify markets and satisfy needs by developing different ways. The term agri-entrepreneurship is similar with entrepreneurship in agriculture and describes agribusiness establishment in agriculture and allied sector.

The next session was delivered by Dr. Sarita Mehra and Dr. S. P. Mehra, RSNH, Bharatpur. They discussed Rural Start Ups for the Empowerment of Rural women: An Experiment of RSNH, Bharatpur. They explained training and mentoring vulnerable women and their families in rural communities with basic Entrepreneurship and Small-scale business startups skills. Then there was the interaction with UBA coordinators Dr. U. N. Roy and Dr. Poonam Syal, Associate Professor, Department of Rural Development.

The workshop was very informative and educative for all the participants.