A 14-day ‘Rail Yatra’ commenced from Mumbai on Saturday with the purpose of spreading the message of the recently concluded G20 Summit in India. The initiative is being led by a local NGO in partnership with G20 Startup 20, and backed by the State Bank of India and SIDBI. It is primarily geared towards promoting inclusive enterprise, women-led development, and other key themes from the Delhi Declaration.

Objectives and details

The 14-day ‘Rail Yatra’ which has 450 participants, including 70 from the G20 nations, will cover a distance of 8000 kilometers across India and will conclude in Mumbai on November 10.

The objective of this Yatra is for the participants to gain exposure to the international startup ecosystem, acquire insights into inclusive practices, and build global networking.

Promotion of Delhi Declaration Pillars

The Yatra will also promote the five pillars of the Delhi Declaration, which include inclusive growth, green development, technological transformation and digital public infrastructure, women empowerment, and culture as a transformative driver.

These fundamental principles of the Delhi Declaration will be amplified through seven large-scale events that are scheduled in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Deoria, Delhi (comprising two events), and Gandhinagar.

Green Support

SIDBI, in its role as a ‘Green Partner,’ is providing support for the Yatra and has placed a high priority on digitization and fostering an environmentally-friendly enterprise ecosystem. Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD at SIDBI, explained that through their backing of this rail journey, SIDBI’s objective is to encourage the adoption of a ‘Green Culture’ and promote ‘Sustainability’ among young individuals and startups, including G20 participants.

SBI Chairman, Dinesh Khara, expressed his support and told PTI that the Yatra strongly aligns with SBI’s dedication to nurturing entrepreneurship in the nation and engaging in initiatives led by women. Khara stated, “This endeavor mirrors our dedication to establishing a varied and all-encompassing entrepreneurial environment, fostering economic growth and social advancement.”