There is good news for first generation entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh. The UPA government?s ambitious centrally funded scheme, the Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojna (Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneur? Friend Scheme) became a reality with the Indian Industries Assotiation (IIA) being selected as the state level Udyami Mitra (entrepreneur friend) to help the budding business talent in the state.
A scheme of the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MMSME), Government of India for promoting and handholding of micro and small enterprises, RGUMY was launched earlier this year.
According to DS Verma, IIA?s executive director, the existing network of 35 chapters in all the industrial districts across the state would prove to be an effective and efficient helping hand for young and aspiring entrepreneurs. ?Apart from providing training and assistance in setting up an enterprise, the Udyami Mitra, according to the terms and conditions of RGUMY, will also be having the responsibility of monitoring it.
In fact, with the IIA selection as the Udyami Mitra, all the 35 chapters of IIA, along with other middle level entrepreneur friends, will undergo their first training at the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) at Noida from September 8 to 10, after which they will be ready to extend their assistance to first generation entrepreneurs in setting up their businesses.
Confirming the selection of IIA, Verma said that the IIA would now provide guidance and assistance to all those people who have aspirations of setting up businesses and added that despite getting technical training, many people failed to transfer it into a successful business venture. ?This gap is what we aim to fill,? he said. According to a rough estimate less than one per cent of the passouts from technical training institutes have been able to turn into successful entrepreneurs.
Under the scheme the Udyami Mitra will work as a mentor and a guide from the start till the time the business is well established. ?We will play a major role right from the preparation of a concept paper to keeping a watch on the progress of work for six months??, says Verma.
The Mitra will also help in the formation of a company for the entrepreneur and will work as a mediator between him and different government departments for various clearances, sanctions and permissions.
Besides, it will also help the entrepreneur in taxation, company laws and financial institutions and in developing the company?s website. ?The role of the entrepreneur friend will not come to an end even when the entrepreneur develops all business acumen, but would be present as a guide whenever the entrepreneur feels the need for it.