Clarion call for Meghalaya Entrepreneurs through CM’s E-Champion Challenge
Shillong | September 13, 2019:
With an aim to boost the entrepreneurship culture in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the CM's E-Champion Challenge on August 14, 2019 in an attempt to not only identify people with innovative business ideas in state but also to provide them a hand-holding support mechanism in order to help them materialize their ideas.
Pertaining to this, sensitization programmes are being conducted in all districts of the state. The programme is being led by Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) in partnership with Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and Indian Institute of Management- Calcutta Innovation Park (IIM-CIP) who have been holding orientation programmes with the staff members of Enterprise Facilitation Centres (EFCs), District Industries Centres (DICs) and Common Service Centres (CSCs) so as to identify and encourage potential entrepreneurs from all districts of the state to make the most of this opportunity by the state government.
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The Labour Commissioner and Director of MIE, Barnari Mawlong along with his team from IIM-CIP and MBDA are in the process of sensitizing the masses about the Chief Minister's E-Champion Challenge as well as the steps to apply for the same. The last date of applying for the challenge is September 30, 2019.
The 1st orientation programme was conducted in State Central Library, Shillong on August 23rd where Additional Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Iadashisha Majaw urged the youth to make the most of this opportunity by the state government while citing examples of various people who with their creativity and determination have now been able to not only establish an enterprise but also support their family.
She said, "This is a golden opportunity for the people of the state and they should make the most of this programme. You cannot stand on your own feet unless you are financially stable. There is plenty of work to do if one is mindful enough to observe their surroundings. There is no excuse for staying unemployed".
The 2nd orientation session took place at Nongpoh in RiBhoi District on
August 27th, 2019.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, RiBhoi District, Shri D. P Kharsati while addressing the staff members of EFCs, DICs and CSCs, the ADC threw light on the talent pool available in RiBhoi district in terms of entrepreneurship and urged them to help in identifying this talent and helping them to make the most of this chance by the state government.
The 3rd and 4th sensitization programmes were held at Jowai in West Jaintia Hills and Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hillsdistricts respectively
on August 30th.
ADC, West Jaintia Hills District, Smt. R.S Manners urged people of her district to apply for Chief Minister's E-Champion Challenge while citing the success story of recognition of Lakadong Turmeric which is indigenous to the district and how it has now gained worldwide recognition due to proper marketing and recognition of viable resource.
Addressing the orientation programme in East Jaintia Hills District, the DC Federick M. Dopthappreciated the Chief Minister's initiative to facilitate up and coming entrepreneurs in the state while hoping that entrepreneurs from the district would be able to make the most of this challenge.
The 5th session of the Chief Minister's E-Champion Challenge programme took place at Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills District in the presence of Enterprise Facilitation Centre (EFCs), District Industries Centre (DICs) and Common Service Centre (CSCs) staff members.The programme took place on September 3rd.
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The 6th orientation programme was conducted by MIE in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills District where Deputy Commissioner, Miss
Isawanda Laloo spoke at length about the various untapped talents in the district and how a programme like the Chief Minister's E-Champion Challenge is a great opportunity for people to become self-employed while also creating employment opportunities for others.
Emphasising on the role of EFCs, DICs and CSCs, the DC said, "This is the core team that will be spear heading, motivating and creating the environment for the programme to take off. People should be made to realize that they are not just the beneficiaries but also equal partners in this
venture. We have people with tons of ideas ranging from dentistry to setting up of a bakery. But the problem that we witness here is that although there is a market for all these services and products, the element of handholding on a long term basis of these partners is missing. Hence a programme such as the Chief Minister's E-Champion Challenge is the need of the hour in the state as a whole and especially in the districts as rural as South West Khasi Hills where the idea of entrepreneurship is still at a very nascent stage".
She also added, "We have a lot of people coming to us asking for assistance to set up enterprises and this is an opportunity for them and they should make the most of this programme. Business should be made a conversation point at this hour and this programme can actually make this happen".
The DC also suggested that the programme should create a level playing field for the rural districts as it is often seen that urban towns and cities are often at an advantage in a programme of this caliber.
The programmes in all the 6 districts witnessed active question and answer sessions from the participants and also gave them a platform to put forward their suggestions for the programme. Similar orientation programmes will be conducted in the districts of Garo Hills in the coming days.
CHIEF MINISTER'S E-CHAMPION CHALLENGE
It may be recalled that The Chief Minister's E-Champion Challenge has been launched with an aim to developing an "Entrepreneurial Ecosystem" in the State. The Challenge is the first critical step in order to kick start large scale and long term enterprise incubation strategy by the Government of Meghalaya.
The programme is being led by the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta Innovation Park (IIM-CIP) as the knowledge partner and Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA).
More information about this challenge can be found in thewebsite https://echamp.miemeghalaya.org/
They can also be followed on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/echampchallenge/?modal=admin_todo_tour
