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Report on LAUNCH OF THE BEST BUSINESS IDEA CONTEST FOR URBAN YOUTH OF PUNE Date: 5th
January 05 Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST), a not for profit organisation promoting entrepreneurship development, launched the 'Best Business Idea Contest' for young people in Pune (PMC and PCMC Area) in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra and Alfa Laval(I) Ltd as Principal sponsor. There was a formal launch of the contest at S. M. Joshi Hall, Ganjave Chowk, Near Patrakar Bhavan, Navi Peth, Pune today i.e. Wednesday 5th of January, 2005 at 3.00 pm. The contest was formally flagged off by Mr. Suresh Kalamadi, Member of Parliament. Mr. Mohan Dharia, Ex- Dy.Chairman Planning Commission and President, Vanrai Trust, Dr. Nitin Kareer, Commissioner, Pune PMC, Mr. Ajay Joshi Director Finance Alfa Laval , Mr. V.S. Kirpekar Chairman MAP BYST and Mr. Pradeep Bhargava Chairman CII were the other eminent members present. On the occasion contest forms were distributed to various NGOs, technical institutes and the youth present there by Mr. Suresh Kalmadi and other guests of honour present on the dias.
Ms. Lakshmi V. Venkatesan the Founding Trustee & Executive Vice President, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust welcomed all the guests and the participants and gave an overview on BYST and its activities. She said that ‘Best Business Idea Contest’ is aimed at encouraging young people in Urban Pune to come up with creative and viable business ideas that could be converted in to successful dynamic small-enterprises. The Contest will also give a boost to the entrepreneurial culture in Maharashtra and especially Pune and will promote new business ideas among the youth. She said that contests such as these are to highlight and showcase the innovative and viable business ideas of young people. Similar contests conducted by BYST in partnership with the Government in rural Andhra Pradesh and Rural Tamilnadu had evinced lot of interest among the rural youth. She emphasized that the contest held at Tamilnadu generated over 1000 ideas from among young women belonging to the rural areas. With the help from BYST and support from the business volunteers we have created many lakhpatis and crorepatis out of these rural young people with great ideas, dreams and determination as their only assets. Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, Member of Parliament and Chief Guest for the occasion emphasized that Pune is the city of the future, and not hyderabad and bangalore. He congratulated BYST for the Bold Initiative and for selecting the right city. He emphasized that city of Pune is the 21st Century city . It was a manageable city and had close proximity. With our educational institutions, proximity to mumbai,, rapidly flourishing IT Industry, Pune is a manageable city and hence it can have full employment Its not very difficult to encourage youth entrepreneurship. The prospects are many and its only how to utilize them. So the private and public sector should come together and join hands with BYST. He spoke about the various Sri Mohan Dharia, while addressing the youth said that it is the youth only who have to take the country forward on the road to development . Self-employment is the need of the hour and a contest like this sets the minds thinking towards taking up the challenge of entrepreneurship. So the youth must make use of this opportunity given to them by BYST and should actively participate in it. He said that govt. should come forward with strong action plan to fight with unemployment. Dr. Nitin Kareer, Commissioner PMC said that if the PMC and BYST along with the private sector would form a partnership it would be a wonderful partnership for this year: a new life would be possible for all those young women and men who are interested to do various things and efforts would get spread thinly. He said that District Industries Centre, employment exchange and all of us in our own way are trying to ensure self employment but through this Contest Self Employment would come centre-stage. He was of the opinion that it is actually the self-employment only, which can fight with unemployment - the major, obstacle for the development of the country. Unique events like this could help young people think on an entirely different perspective of career development and help them settle in life . They see a dream and a vision and then translate it into reality through contest such as these. Mr. Ajay Joshi, Director Finance of Alfa Laval (India) Ltd, the principal sponsor for the contest, speaking on Corporate support in Youth entrepreneurship said that there are many ways , the corporate could support youth entrepreneurship. Apart from supporting initiatives like the Idea contest, providing guidance on legal and commercial matters, accounting, direct buying of items that are otherwise bought through market, advance against future supplies, assuring direct payments to banks for supplies made to the corporate are some of the ways the young entrepreneurs can be supported in their business. Mr. Pradeep Bhargava, Chairman CII said that CII has always been working for the industrial development of the country and association with an organization like BYST has given it an opportunity to constructively come out with its corporate social responsibility initiative as this Trust , in its own unique way, is helping people set up their own small enterprises. He said that CII supports BYST in its administration and management at all the six regions across the country and the CII members, voluntarily, are associated with BYST as its mentors and different committee members. He also emphasized the need for such partnerships such as the Public & Private. Sharing his experience on the occasion, Mr. Vikas Kumbharkar, the winner of the Rural Maharashtra ‘ Walk Your Dream ‘ contest 1st prize winner said that his prize was his reward and recognition for starting the dreamt business of cashew nut processing. He could start the business only because BYST rewarded him for the best business idea and got the direction and mentoring support from the best in the business. Mr. V.S. Kirpekar, Chairman Mentor Advisory Panel BYST proposed the vote of thanks to the guests and the audience present. Also the products made by BYST entrepreneurs were presented to the guests as a token of appreciation by the BYST supported entrepreneurs. BUSINESS IDEAS CONTEST FOR YOUTH IN PUNE ORGANISED BY BHARATIYA YUVA SHAKTI TRUST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT of MAHARASHTRA & ALFA LAVAL 1.Introduction: Through this "Business Idea Contest", BYST aims at encouraging young men and women in around Pune City to come up with creative and viable business ideas that could be converted into successful dynamic micro-enterprises. The Contest will also give a boost to the entrepreneurial culture in Pune City and will promote new business ideas among the youth. 2.Process: A business idea form will be distributed among the aspiring youth and the best idea that is viable will be chosen for the contest. The DIC,Employment Exchange, PMC and NGO's will assist in conducting an awareness generation campaign on the Contest in the City. The ideas will be collected through a streamlined strategy and a panel of business experts will scrutinize it. The business ideas have to be innovative, unique and viable. Eligibility
Criteria: Method of distribution and getting responses for the contest: Forms are available at Distribution
: Through BYST offices, DIC office, Employment exchanges, Through
PMC Ward Offices and NGO's Through Mailers: The Idea Form is designed in such a way that it can be folded and sent to us directly by post, as we would have our address printed on it. The idea forms could be distributed in the Community.
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