Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini gives over Rs 1-cr grant to 22 startups

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today announced that the Haryana Rajya Udyamita Ayog would be set up to motivate and train youth in entrepreneurship. He said the government was committed to making the state 'number one startup hub' in the country.

Saini made several announcements while addressing a state-level programme organised on the occasion of World Entrepreneurship Day at the HAU. Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa and Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Minister Gaurav Gautam were also present.

The CM handed over a cheque for Rs 1,14,30,000 as grant money to 22 startups of ABIC, HAU and also announced that Startup Idea Slogan Competitions would be organised in all schools and colleges to promote entrepreneurship, with a prize money of up to Rs 1 crore to be awarded to winners at the district and state levels.

He said the ideas that developed into startups would receive full microfinance support from the government under the Startup Policy. He also announced that Swadeshi Fairs would be organised to promote the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative. Saini said the government was encouraging private investors to create a 'fund of funds', which would position Haryana as a major hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said Centres of Excellence would be established in every district under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. To identify and nurture skills, competitions would be held annually at district and state levels. Additionally, under the Mukhya Mantri Yuva Kaushal Samman Yojana, 2,000 graduate and postgraduate students would be offered internship opportunities in various industries, along with an honorarium of Rs 10,000.

The CM also announced that the government would award cash prizes of up to Rs 10 lakh to medal winners from Haryana in the World Skill Olympics. Those who wished to start their own business would be eligible for additional financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh. If they preferred not to pursue entrepreneurship, they would be offered employment as skill trainers in schools, ITIs, polytechnics, and colleges across Haryana.

He said currently, Haryana was home to over 9,000 recognised startups and about 45% were led by women founders. The state ranked seventh largest in the country in terms of the number of startups.