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.