Jyotsna Sitling, joint secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said the initiative is part of the government's plans to create more opportunities for youth and develop a sustainable ecosystem of entrepreneurship. The government will develop an entrepreneurship curriculum, using the experience of world-class institutions.
"The ministry will start entrepreneurship education in 3,000 colleges all over India. These entrepreneurship courses will be taught in 325 industrial clusters around the nation through 15 nodal entrepreneurship hubs (e-hubs)," Sitling said at the Start-Up Conclave 2015 in New Delhi on Thursday.
The plan will be implemented in phases over the next five years. The e-hubs will help in integrating the entrepreneurship initiatives of different stakeholders, Sitling said.
The focus will also be on inclusion for SC/ST segments, minorities and differently-abled people in the workforce.
Sitling also suggested many steps for making the ease of doing business a reality in the country. She said there is a need for an online composite application form for obtaining approvals and clearances from various government authorities.
Also, it should be made easier for young entrepreneurs to exit their businesses and wind up companies in case of bankruptcies or financial difficulties.
The ministry has already partnered with the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad to create grassroots technological innovation hubs across the country. India's corporate sector has welcomed the ministry's plan to promote entrepreneurship.
S. Gopalakrishnan, former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), also announced the leading industry body would leverage its 7,000 members and 63 offices across the country to support the government startups smaller cities and in rural areas.
"We want to take what happens in startup hubs like Gurgaon and Bangalore to places like Salem, Erode, Hubli and see whether we can enable a vibrant ecosystem there," Gopalakrishnan said.
The CII will set up incubators that will house 10-20 startups and will identify potential entrepreneurs and train them.
It will also connect young entrepreneurs with mentors and help them in securing funding from angel investors.
"We will pilot this project in 2-3 places first and learn from experiences of organsations like the Deshpande Foundation that has set up a vibrant startup ecosystem in Hubli," he adds.
BW Reporters
Sonal was a writer on startups and entrepreneurship for BW Businessworld,
