Government

56 | June 15, 2012 visit www.dqindia.com DATAQUEST | A CyberMedia Publication

Government

The ‘Youth Enterprise Program’ focuses on developing ideation and innovation skills among students by giving them an opportunity to work on real social challenges RUKHSAR SALEEM

rukhsars@cybermedia.co.in

Unleashing the Power of the Youth

The government of India has been on the lookout for real solutions to real problems. Therefore

it has geared up to address two issues (not so burning but defi-nitely addressable): Promotion of entrepreneurship in India and also to enhance the effectiveness of Com-mon Service Centers (CSCs) through the ‘youth enterprise’ pilot program. As a result, in December 2011, the government, through its National Science and Technology Entrepre-neurship Development Board (NST-EDB), which is under Department of Science & Technology (DST) joined

hands with Intel Corporation and NS Raghavan Center for Entrepre-neurial Learning (NSRCEL), part of IIM-Bengaluru to achieve the above mentioned objective.

CSC-Integral to NeGPThe Common Service Center (CSC Scheme), an integral pillar of the government’s National e-Govern-ance Plan (NeGP) was a $1.2 bn initiative by the Government of India. It was proposed in the year 2004 and was finally approved by the government of India in September 2006 for setting up of 100,000+ (one lakh) internet-ena-

bled centers in rural areas under the NeGP, which are being imple-mented in a Public Private Partner-ship (PPP) mode.

The ObjectiveThe CSC Scheme was envisaged to be a bottom-up model for delivery of content, services, information, and knowledge, that can allow like-minded public and private enterprises—through a collaborative framework—to integrate their goals of profit as well as social objectives, into a sustainable business model for achieving rapid socio-economic change in rural India.

Status of CSCs

n As on Aril 30, 2012, states have reported that 72,133 CSCs are connected out of which 20,063 CSCs are connected through BSNL, 23,369 CSCs are connected via VSATs, 14,641 are using data cards, and 14,060 are using con-nectivity through other technologies like WLL and GPRS.

n As on April 30, 2012, Online Monitoring Tool (OMT) has been installed/registered in 66,123 CSCs covering 27 states and user IDs have been created/commissioned for 85,064 CSCs.

Challenges Faced by CSCs and the Issues with its Reach Programs

n Cost of connectivity initially was very high due to expensive hardware involved. Mobile solutions have resolved the is-sue to a large extent but not completely.

n Content of CSCs is primarily weak and is not available in local languages. So, it still has to be converted into usable format.

n Rural people neither have access to CSCs nor have awareness about CSC benefits.

n CSCs do not have simple technical solutions to cater to large masses.

n Lack of monitoring and evaluation.

Youth Enterprise ProgramThe Drivers:

NSTEDB (DST) + NSRCEL (IIM-B) + Intel + Dept of IT (Govt of Karnataka)

The Program:

n Students across Karnataka from colleges and Intel embedded challenge winners were invited to give ‘real solutions for real problems’.

n Problem were presented by DST about CSCs; and Intel provided funding for the program and NSTEDB provided all necessary permissions and licenses.

n 50 selected teams were provided 5-day workshop—by IIM-B from February 14-19, 2012.

n Finally 6 projects were finalized and showcased in April 2012, New Delhi.

The Results:

n RozgarDATA and Abhyudaya emerged as winners—given prize money of Rs 2.5 lakh each.

n Six finalists being given 6 months’ business guidance by IIM-B, technical support from Intel, and permissions and clearances by DST.

n Pilot projects will roll out from June 2012.

n Later projects will be independent to run the show on their own.

l CSCs rolled out - 88.995

DATAQUEST | A CyberMedia Publication visit www.dqindia.com June 15, 2012 | 57

Youth Enterprise ProgramThe ‘Youth Enterprise Pilot’ is aimed at accelerating ideation, innovation, and venture creation among the youth from premier colleges in the state of Karna-taka. Fifty students were selected from across the state and winners of Intel Embedded Challenge. Eleven projects were shortlisted to undergo 5-day intensive business guidance workshops from February 14-19, 2012, by IIM-Bengaluru faculty and technical support from Intel. Finally, 6 projects have been finalized which are further under-going mentoring from IIM-B. Two

of these have been declared win-ners and awarded `2.5 lakh each by Intel.

Our TakeThis program certainly sounds promising but all the beneficiar-ies have to watch them closely when they take off to become independent entities. In addition, it has to be seen how effectively these drivers are able to replicate this success story across all the states, keeping in view the diver-sity of the country and its unique advantages and disadvantages. Like Intel India, other leading IT

players should also volunteer not only for fresh ideas to work upon and a market to exploit but also to foster such initiatives. And a huge potential opens up for SMBs to make use of such schemes and programs to scale up and become more competitive.

The current intent of the project and the drivers make the project look very actionable, but will the future be as per their expecta-tions has to be seen as it entirely depends on the success of this pilot project and the responsiveness of other state governments and the direct beneficiaries. n

Key Takeawaysn Capacity building and

funnelingn Building platform to

promote entrepreneurshipn Building trade and

funding linkages

Beneficiaries n SMBs

Opportunity for SMBs to make use of such mentoring programs for scaling upn Tech Start-ups

Mentoring and funding is definitely expected to help themn Young Entrepreneurs

Ideation and venture creation mentoring will boost their moralen Vendors

IT vendors will get another big chunk of customers to promote their products and solutionsn Government

A win-win situation for the government. It will be able to generate employment, promote innovation, and address challenges crippling not only CSCs but also e-governance plans as a whole

“We are focused to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in a country like India, which has immense potential waiting to be exploited

in a meaning--ful manner”

—Ashutosh Chadha director, corporate affairs South Asia, Intel Technology India

“Ineffective CSCs are just less than 0.5% of the problems faced by National e-Gov Plans, but we are motivated to address as much as

possible through innovation and entre- -prene- -urship”

—HK Mittal advisor and project head, NSTEDB

The ‘Youth Enterprise’ Prize Winners

n RozgarDATA—targets to connect rural unemployed with

the available opportunitiesn Abhyudaya—targets to

mitigate the financial risk for farmers arising due to weather and crop price variation.The Other Finalists

n Krishi Sahayak Vikas Kendra (KSVK)—addresses agriculture and finance shortcomings

n Remote—addresses education

n AgroSTATS—addresses agriculture issues

n PlanMyHealth—addresses healthcare issues

“We really had a wonderful experience during the workshop. What motivates us

the most is the consi--stent ment- -oring”

—Dharanidhar Dang CTO, RozgarDATA