Kargil: The Entrepreneurship Awareness Program (EAP) under the Enterprising Ladakh initiative concluded today at Government Degree College Sankoo. The three-day event, organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, was held from July 17 to 19, 2025, and aimed to equip students with foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship, innovation, and business planning.
This initiative, guided by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal, and Secretary of Higher/Technical Education and Skill Development Bhanu Prabha, IAS, is envisioned by Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General of EDII, and Dr. Amit Kumar Dwivedi, Director – Projects (Government), EDII.
Over the three days, students engaged in interactive sessions led by EDII faculty members and local experts. On the first day, Abhishake Nandan, Padma Lhazes, and Fariha Fatima introduced participants to the basics of entrepreneurship, enterprise development, and innovation. The second day featured a session by Dr. Nasreen Fatima from KVK, who spoke about agricultural entrepreneurship and urged students to consider agriculture from a business perspective. Fariha Fatima also delivered an engaging session on branding and sustainable packaging. Later, Padma Lhazes conducted a lively “Startup Quiz,” sparking enthusiasm among students.
The final day focused on government support systems, with Shaukat Ali, Functional Manager at DIC Kargil, explaining schemes like PMEGP and PMFME. Throughout the program, students actively participated by presenting business ideas and competing in quizzes.
Arif Hussain was announced as the winner of the Startup Quiz. The top three student entrepreneurs were also recognized for their innovative ideas. Zahra Bee secured first place with her concept of promoting Ladakhi traditional art through hand embroidery. Kulsuma Bano came second with her idea on apricot-based products, while Mohd. Ibrahim was awarded third prize for proposing a vehicle service centre tailored to tourism needs in Ladakh.
Nodal Officer of GDC Sankoo, Dr. Saleem Ahmed, and Nodal Officer of Enterprising Ladakh, Dr. Fayaz Hussain, appreciated the enthusiasm of the students and encouraged them to explore entrepreneurship as a serious career path.
