Dr. Sofi Rafiq
Nurturing Entrepreneurial Culture and attitudes: Role of Government in entrepreneurship plays an inevitable role in the economic progress of any region and it is treated as a potential solution to flagging economic growth and rising unemployment. The G20 leaders Summit held in Brisbane Australia held in Nov 2014 Concluded with these historical remarks “That for enhanced economic growth that could be achieved by the “promotion of competition, entrepreneurship and innovation”. There was also a call for strategies to reduce unemployment, particularly amongst youth, through the “encouragement of entrepreneurship.
The role of society, social Institutions and family in creating entrepreneurial culture is unavoidable but the role and responsibility of the government of any region in nurturing entrepreneurial culture and attitude among prospective, young, energetic and dynamic youth cannot be ruled out. Over the past 40 years the level of government interest in entrepreneurship and small business development as a solution to economic woes has increased. This increased interest on part of the government can be traced back to the report produced by Professor David. G. W. Birch from University of Illinois (USA) which was published in 1979. A key finding from his work was that job creation in the United States was not coming from large companies, but small independently owned businesses. It recommended that government policy should target indirect rather than direct strategies with a greater focus on the role of small firms.
Thus If entrepreneurship is treated as a coin, social change and effective role of government are its two indispensable sides. Therefore, in order to change the economic destiny of Jammu and Kashmir the government at Centre which directly controls the region has to pay special attention towards creating and flourishing entrepreneurship culture in Jammu and Kashmir following suggestions can be put forward in this regard:
1. Conducive business environment: Business environment is the sum total of all internal and external factors that affect routine business work as well as decision making. The responsibility of the government is to play its part seriously in making the business environment conducive by ensuring political stability, so that prospective youth not only come forward eagerly but enjoy being entrepreneurs.
2. Reformation in Higher Education: A mass reformation in higher education is the need of hour. The courses offered and taught need to be in consonance with the demand in the market. Job oriented courses need to be introduced which will not only handover degree certificates to the students but also ensure that after completing degree they must be in a position to earn their livelihood and have ability to create jobs instead of seeking jobs. We have more that 800 PhD’s in Jammu and Kashmir who have either crossed the upper age limit or are on the verge of overage but are unemployed. Though these people are intelligent, knowledgeable and have degrees in hands but are unemployed there is fault somewhere in the system which tells upon the career of people. Higher education has to take a leading role in creating and nurturing entrepreneurial culture in Jammu and Kashmir.
3. Link between ITI’s and Industries: In ITI’s people are trained for various skills but the lack of Industrial sector and absence of link between industries and educational institutions is not giving encouraging results. Mere introducing entrepreneurship as a subject at higher secondary, college and university levels will not suffice instead the need to create a link between ITIs and industry so that the skill based human resource trained in ITI’s will benefit industry .
4. Industrial policy: An Industrial policy is not merely an official document but it represents the vision of the government towards the industrial up-liftmen of the region and job creation. Unless the government comes up with such an industrial policy which will encourage and motivate prospective entrepreneurs to come forward and set their own units, the economic development and growth via industrial development will remain a farfetched dream. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has come up with a new industrial policy of 2021-30 vide order No 117-Ind of 21 dated 19.04-2021 with the aims to position Jammu and Kashmir as aspiring investment destination in India within Ten years and to create new employment opportunities by creating conducive business environment and by adopting cluster development approach to attain optimum utilization of the resources available in Jammu and Kashmir on papers it seems good but the results on ground will be know in near future when its implementation in letter and spirit will be ensured.
5. Single Window: Quick and in time Redressal of all issues pertaining to Registration, Finances, Schemes, Marketing, Incentives, Taxes etc. single window mechanism need to be introduced to save time and energy of entrepreneurs.
6. Introspection: A comprehensive introspection is direly needed as to why the Govt. of India launched initiatives such as Start up India to promote and support new start-ups, is not showing encouraging results in Jammu and Kashmir.
7. Corruption: The deep rooted corruption in the system has to be uprooted to pave ways for the merit, Innovation, Creativity over nepotism and Favouritism.
8. Establishment of Entrepreneur Clubs /Incubation Centres: Like literary clubs, establishment of entrepreneur clubs is the need of the hour. In order to assist entrepreneurs in developing their business and solving problems associated with it, especially in the initial stages. They need all sorts of technical services, Advisory Services, Networks and above all they need to be kept motivated with high morale for which regular counselling is of dire importance so in each district establishment of an incubation centre is a must to handle prospective entrepreneurs with care.
Therefore, the development of entrepreneurship depends largely on institutional, physical and financial infrastructure that a country has. The higher level of infrastructure development, the easier factor it represents in the development of entrepreneurship in the country and vice versa. Above all a good tax system and a viable financial system will enable nourishment of Entrepreneurship culture in Jammu and Kashmir.
– The author can be reached at rafeeqgbl@gmail.com
