Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma on Tuesday said that the State Government has made provision of Rs 10 crore for enabling and equipping the students studying in colleges and universities for launching own Start-ups.
Addressing the students after inaugurating the Start-up Incubator-cum- Centre of Excellence at Government Post-Graduate College at Sector-1 in Panchkula, near here, the Minister said this was the first-of-its kind Centre set up in the state.
It is an important step towards realisation of vision of Digital India of the Prime Minister Narender Modi. The youth does not lack talent; it has to be recognized appropriately, he added.
Sharma said that the Centre would promote entrepreneurship at all levels among the aspiring youth of the state. Spread over an area of 3,000 square feet, the Centre would primarily cater to four government colleges of Panchkula district namely, Government Postgraduate College, Sector-1, Government Post Graduate Women's College, Sector-14, Government College, Barwala and Government College, Kalka, and the students would be able to give wings to their ideas.
The Minister also spoke about starting a money bank for new entrepreneurs of the state, which would provide interest-free financial assistance along with bus service for girl students who travel in remote areas. He urged the youth to come forward with start-up ideas and make career for themselves.
On this occasion, Sharma also launched 'Shiksha Setu', a mobile application, a new web portal and PATANG (Passport Assistance to aspiring Young Graduates) initiative of the Higher Education Department.
He applauded the Department of Higher Education for taking up new initiatives to upgrade the quality of higher education. With the launch of mobile app 'Shiksha Setu' and new web portal, the students studying in colleges and universities would now be able to deposit their fees and get scholarships online.
This mobile application and portal would make available detailed information on students, teachers and other staff online and would also help in evaluation of students and the performance of teachers.
Sharma said that the State Government is taking corrective steps in higher education. Last year on February 10, the government had laid foundation stone of 21 government colleges at one go, and this year, 10 women colleges are being opened.
Special emphasis is being laid on women education and special buses would be run for girls in hilly areas of Morni in Panchkula, he added.
Under PATANG initiative, students of colleges would be able to get their passports made on college campus. On the occasion, Sharma also distributed passports to 21 students of Government Post Graduate College, Sector -1 Panchkula, under PATANG.
Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Jyoti Arora, said the government is making efforts to provide education of international standards to students studying in colleges and universities in the state so that they did not lag behind in any competition.
Arora said the Higher Education Department is taking steps to create a spirit of competition in the colleges and universities of the state. Parameters of 80 points have been fixed for colleges and 30 points for universities on the basis of which their excellence is judged. All this information would be available on the department’s portal, she added.