MANGALDAI, July 22 - Pankaj Goswami, General Manager, District Industries and Commerce, Darrang, inaugurated a meet of aspiring entrepreneurs, successful entrepreneurs, mentors, bankers and other stakeholders associated with entrepreneurship development, organised by the Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST), at the Youth Club here today.
The DICC GM rued the negative attitude of a section of bankers in disbursing loans to entrepreneurs at the right time. He appealed to the bankers to extend necessary support to young entrepreneurs.
Speaking on the occasion, senior mentor and BYST vice president VK Dewan highlighted the functions of the BYST, a not-for-profit organisation, in assisting disadvantaged youths in developing business ideas into viable enterprises under the guidance of a mentor who renders voluntary service. He pointed out that the principal objective of the BYST is to enable job seekers to become job creators.
Dewan said that though the BYST has been functioning in India since the last 24 years, it started its activities in 12 districts of Assam in 2012. Sharing a platform with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the BYST has been implementing a project under the Employment Generation Mission of the Government of Assam.
Since the inception of the BYST, more than 70 entrepreneurs, supported by the BYST in different States of the country, have won various national and international awards, particularly the Green Entrepreneur Award in 2012, instituted by the UK-based Youth Business International.
Dalimi Rabha of Assam received the CII Exemplary Woman Award with a cash amount of Rs 3 lakh and a citation from the Union Finance Minister in New Delhi in April this year.
Dewan said that the BYST started its activities in Darrang district in 2014 and it has already facilitated bank linkages of Rs 2.27 crore for 103 entrepreneurs in the district. It has also extended support to entrepreneurs in sectors like steel fabrication, RCC manufacturing, tailoring, bakery, bamboo and cane products, etc. It has also supported the service sector with respect to hotels and restaurants, tent houses, beauty parlours, transport, etc.
The BYST recently came up with a mentors� chapter in Darrang district with the active support of ten mentors from different walks of life.
Addressing the meet, Kushal Saharia, Director, UCO RSETI, Mangaldai, laid stress on the timely repayment of bank loans. Senior mentors DK Deori and AK Nath also spoke on the occasion.
The meet was attended by 150 potential entrepreneurs.
