READY, GET SET, START-UP

A slew of new schemes aims to make the state’s entrepreneurial culture more inclusive

The change of guard does not seem to have dimmed Karnataka’s entrepreneurial spirit, especially in Bengaluru. There are ever more startups registering for business, a reflection of the new Janata Dal (Secular)Congress government continuing the proentrepreneur policies of the previous regime. In the past 23 years, special emphasis has been given to women leaders, technology and innovation and ecommerce to drive entrepreneurial growth. The focus is now on encouraging startups to go beyond Bengaluru.

A few ministries like social welfare are actively trying to make entrepreneurship inclusive through incentive programmes. The recently launched Unnati scheme is aimed at creating endtoend infrastructure for startups and entrepreneurs from the marginalised sections of society. Likewise, under the Airavata scheme, the government has partnered with cab aggregators to provide employment to

the Dalit community. “The longterm plan is to see success stories among the SC/ ST communities. We want economic opportunities and income levels to improve in other towns,” says Karnataka social welfare minister Priyank Kharge.

Two weeks ago, the Samruddhi scheme was launched where private enterprises will train youths from backward communities in skill development and entrepreneurship. Some 30 companies have already signed up for the training programme, which is targeting 25,000 youths.

In manufacturing, the big push is in the areas of LED lights, integrated circuit boards, textiles, mobile phone components manufacturing, sports and fitness goods, and others with a budgetary allocation of Rs 500 crore in 201819 for skill development of human resources.

Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Ballari, Ramanagara, Mysuru, Yadgiri, Uttara Kannada and Haveri districts are the focus areas to promote entrepreneurship. In 201718, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Karnataka (CEDOK) in association with UNDP implemented the Disha scheme to impart training to entrepreneurs in 16 districts. So far, 32,000 people have benefitted. The government intends to extend this scheme to all districts of Karnataka in 201819, targeting a 100,000 people.

“We want to encourage entrepreneurship in small towns. We have to look beyond IT if employment generation has to come in big numbers” H.D. Kumaraswamy Chief Minister, Karnataka