Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the three-day Kashmir Expo-startup for livelihood
yesterday at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC), Srinagar. Seven books in Urdu and Kashmiri and two monthly science newsletters: Gaash in Kashmiri and Tajassus in Urdu, were also released during the event.
Fifty startups showcased their products and services to inspire the region’s youth to utilize the resources and channel their potentialities and capacities to grow personally and contribute to nation-building.
Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, stated how these start-ups would be supported to market their innovations and generate employment. He also emphasized the need to expand their horizon so that their products reach outside the region.
Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir, lauded the efforts in bringing out the books and newsletters and hoped more such useful and interesting resources would be created to popularize science in Urdu and Kashmiri.
Dr Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar, appraised every one of the efforts and hard work of Vigyan Prasar’s project SCoPE secretariat in catering to the Kashmiri and Urdu populace by publishing monthly newsletters Gaash and Tajassusand other original publications in Kashmiri and Urdu. He further mentioned that more such content would be developed and made accessible to the common masses, which would benefit society in all terms.
Chief Guest of the event Dr Jitendra Singh stressed creating more avenues in innovations and startups for Kashmir as the region lags in terms of exposure and channelization of sources. He mentioned that the region has abundant talent and resources, but the need of the hour is to utilize resources for the welfare of people to make their lives convenient and easy.
“There is so much talent waiting to find an outlet, and the Kashmir expo is one of its kind to provide that outlet. We must make use of our intelligence and talent. Bio-economy is going to play a key role in the nation’s economic prosperity,” he said.
The Union Minister mentioned how Kashmir could become an agri-hub of startups and how the Government of India is taking the initiative to create sustainable startups for sustainable livelihoods. He also stated that the future belongs to youth, and it is up to them to make their future more productive.
Dr Anita Gupta, Advisor and Head (Innovation and entrepreneurship) NSTEDB, DST; Shri Saurabh Bhagat, Secretary, S&T Department J&K; Dr D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu; and several other dignitaries, innovators and entrepreneurs, scholars and students from Jammu and Kashmir attended the inaugural function.
