Himachal Emerges Hill State Leader in State Startup Ranking

Sudershna Kumari gets ‘Startup Hero of the State’ Award

5 Dariya News

New Delhi 20-Dec-2018

Himachal Pradesh has been recognized as the "Hill State Leader and an Aspiring Leader" in developing an enabling startup ecosystem in the State.  State has been given award by the Government of India in a special function organised on 20th December, 2018 at New Delhi to felicitate the best performing states in the Startup ecosystem development domain. The award was received by Deputy Director  Industries Deepika Khatri on behalf of the State Government.Felicitating the efforts of State Industries Department, Industries Minister Bikram Singh said the State has been recognised for its exemplary performance as “REGULATORY CHANGE CHAMPION” in the country.  He said this achievement was possible because of the vision of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur which was instrumental in bringing the CM Startup Scheme in the state, which envisages sustenance allowance of Rs. 25,000 per month, interest subsidy, allotment of plots at concessional rates etc, which were proving  to be a game changer in transforming job seekers into job creators in the state.He said in last one year under the CM Startup Scheme, 40 startups were incubated in 8 incubation centres and 100+ mentors were on-boarded. He said  the state had organised Annual Entrepreneurship Award in April this year, where top 3 bright startups were awarded Rs. 1,00,000, 75,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively. 

The state also sent a delegation of 10 startups to Startup Expo held on 6th October 2018 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.The state also conducts Knowledge Workshops and Investor Meets for startups and Sensitisation and Ideation Workshops at colleges, at regular intervals. Till now, 11 such events have been conducted.Giving details of Startup India, Secretary Industries Manoj Kumar told that recently, Startup India Himachal Pradesh Yatra was conducted which covered the districts of Shimla, Solan, Sirmour, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, Kullu and Mandi, conducting  8  bootcamps and making 16 van stops throughout the state. During the yatra people were sensitised about the ‘Startup India Scheme’ of Government of India and ‘CM Startup Scheme’ of Government of Himachal Pradesh.He said during the yatra, 1450 people registered at the Van Stops and 1541 people registered at the respective boot camps; where in total 118 ideas were pitched. Overall, 67 pitches qualified for the 2 day Acceleration Program which was held at IIT Mandi from 28th to 29th November 2018.Manoj Kumar said the grand finale of the Startup Yatra was held at IIT Mandi on 30th November 2018 where 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes comprising Rs. 40,000/-, Rs. 30,000/- and Rs. 20,000/- respectively were given out for the most innovative idea in the categories of Agriculture, Technology, Social Entrepreneurship and Ideas by Women Entrepreneurs. Also, ‘Startup Hero of the State’ Award comprising of an award money of Rs. one lakh was given to Sudershna Kumari.Minister said the Startup is just the beginning in the State and would go miles in coming years.