Leh: Director General (DG), Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, Dr Sunil Shukla, called on the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, at Raj Niwas today. Commissioner/Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Saugat Biswas, was present in the meeting.
DG EDII Ahmedabad shared the proposal to develop the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of Ladakh (EDIL) along with District Resource Centres and Business Incubators (DRCBIs) in Leh and Kargil to develop entrepreneurial culture among youth, equip them with adequate knowledge and experience, etc.
He briefed that EDII Ahmedabad can play a strategic role in extending ‘concept-to-completion’ in setting up the Institute; formation and operationalisation; provide support as a knowledge partner; organise various entrepreneurial activities; create an overall entrepreneurial eco-system in Ladakh; facilitate in developing human resources; implement specialist training programmes/research works/workshops/seminars, etc.
DG EDII Ahmedabad apprised that the proposed Institute will facilitate in developing new start-ups and entrepreneurs and benefit youth from Ladakh through employment generation.
He further shared that EDII Ahmedabad would provide professional support in deputing experts for EDIL for facilitating planning and organising the creation of new enterprises, sensitisation on capacity building, awareness, education programmes for various target groups; developing content for different programmes; conceiving, formulating and presenting proposals for EDIL and coordination with various bodies.
DG EDII Ahmedabad further briefed about its Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) Model and Centre for Advancing and Launching Enterprises (CrAdLE) and shared the plan to replicate CrADLE in Ladakh to target Appropriate Technology (AT) relevant to the region.
LG Mathur stressed on the need to provide handholding to aspiring entrepreneurs and start-ups until they become functioning enterprises. He emphasised on the need for choice of appropriate technology and skilled manpower in the entrepreneurship sector.
He suggested interventions in a few sectors/industries where EDII Ahmedabad can provide its expertise, viz. dairy production; production of vegetables/fruits in polycarbonate greenhouses; pashmina wool production; horticulture, particularly apples, apricots and sea buckthorn, etc.; transportation and marketing of products and processing of fruits; commercial production of medicinal, aromatic and nutraceutical plants; fisheries and food processing. LG Mathur stated that sustained work and efforts in these sectors/industries would enable to overcome employment challenges in Ladakh.
LG Mathur stressed on the need for interventions in the tourism sector, especially capacity-building of homestay owners through trainings and re-trainings, and wood and wool sector. He requested for introduction of CrADLE concept in Ladakh and the handholding of aspiring entrepreneurs and start-ups from Ladakh.
