Science & Technology Entrepreneurship
Development (STED) Project
Achievements at
Select Locations
In Moradabad
In spite of being a prominent SME cluster of the
country, Moradabad has not been able to emerge out of severe economic
decline. Competition from international markets is one major factor
considered detrimental to economic growth in the region. In such
conditions where the market potential is substantial but immense
competition also exists, it was felt that existing activities should
be technologically updated and new enterprises should be launched
with technology to back it up.
Firstly, the STED project conducted an Industry
Potential Survey. Since Moradabad is already a major centre for
brass handicrafts with immense potential for growth in the cluster,
substantial focus was placed on exploring this area for setting
up micro enterprises. The survey team made a detailed research on
all aspects of successful organisational functioning like technology,
marketing, finance, etc. Linkages were also established with local
institutions and departments. Besides, NG0s were also actively involved
on account of their good reach at the grassroot level in the area.
The district is the main centre for brass handicrafts
but unfortunately in the brassware cluster itself, the existing
production processes are inferior which makes the products uncompetitive
in the international market. In view of this as well as the potential
that the sector has, ILO also came forward to actively support EDI
in its efforts to promote and strengthen the cluster. Several other
opportunities were also identified and project profiles were prepared
for ready reference of trained potential entrepreneurs.
The areas includes, Bone and Hoof Handicraft Items,
Mineral Water, Screen Printing, Dairy Products, Offset Printing
Process, Repair of Two Wheelers, Durry Weaving, Buff Making, etc.
Subsequent to Entrepreneurship Awareness Camps,
several Skill Development Programmes were also organised wherein
master craftsmen and technical experts were invited to deliver inputs.
As a result, target of four years was completed in just a span of
one year. Two hundred nine new enterprises were set up in the region.
In Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh is a district predominantly inhabited
by the tribal population and the primary economic activities of
the people are agriculture, horticulture, dairy, carpet weaving,
wool knitting, rabbit rearing, herb collection and tourism related
activities. The STED team at Pithoragarh conducted an Industry Potential
Survey to acquire information on areas that had growth potential.
The clusters identified were : weaving, fruit processing, IT hardware,
electronic goods assembling, inland fisheries, turpentine and varnish
manufacturing, drug manufacturing, goat rearing, tourism, etc. Networking
was established with local institutions to gain information on the
prevalent conditions. The STED team, after delving into local requirements,
needs and potential, prepared six project profiles so that the entrepreneurs
thus trained could use them. The project profiles were prepared
in Angora Rabbit Rearing for wool production and making finished
products like shawls, sweaters, caps, etc., mushroom cultivation,
off-season vegetables using poly house technology with hybrid seeds;
bee keeping, fisheries and vegetable cultivation using high yield
variety seeds. After training and counselling potential entrepreneurs,
30 enterprises were set up in the region during the year, the target
being 200 enterprises in 4 years.
In Hazaribagh
On the basis of an industrial potential survey,
the STED team short listed a few potential clusters; brass metal
ware, food processing, ready-made garments, earthen pottery manufacturing,
information technology and ancillaries for Videocon and HFCL manufacturing
units. Linkages were also established with local institutions and
departments in the region so that information on the local conditions,
people and technical expertise available could be acquired.
Subsequently capacity building programmes, entrepreneurship
awareness camps and demonstrations on certain upcoming technologies
were organised. As a result, the STED team succeeded in establishing
33 enterprises during the year in various areas such as paper conservation,
silk reeling, readymade garments, cyber cafe, etc. The target is
to set up 200 enterprises in four years.
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