Sowing SEED of change: Jalandhar students promote entrepreneurship in Banga villages

In a unique effort to foster rural entrepreneurship, five high school students from Jalandhar have launched an initiative to empower village communities through hands-on business education.

Operating under the banner of NGO Social Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Development (SEED), the students — Pranav Prashar, Karthik Patiyal, Yuvraj Thakur, Angad Gill and Mehraab Kalsi — recently held their first session in a village near Banga, drawing over 30 participants.

The workshop, titled “Build Your Own Business”, helped villagers identify and design ventures suited to their local needs — from dairy distribution systems to home-based tailoring enterprises. Unlike typical lectures, the session began with a thought-provoking question: “Why do you think people start a business?” What followed was an interactive dialogue that encouraged participants to think creatively using their existing skills and resources.

“This session wasn’t about giving a lecture — it was about showing people what they can build with what they already have,” said co-founder Pranav Prashar, summing up the spirit of the initiative, which is rooted in sustainability, inclusion and self-reliance.

The villagers were also introduced to key government schemes — including the Prime Minister Employment Guarantee Programme (PMEGP), MUDRA and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) — and were given practical guidance on how to apply for them. The students took them through the application processes step-by-step, translating complex policy details into accessible, actionable plans.

The boys, from different schools but united in their mission, plan to expand the initiative to other rural pockets across Jalandhar and its periphery. “We are encouraging youth not to wait for job opportunities but to start their own ventures using government schemes and whatever skill they possess,” Prashar added.

Reflecting on their first field visit, the students said, “The Banga engagement marked SEED’s seminal sowing of transformation, with ambitions that transcend geography. SEED reflects the power of youthful conviction and civic responsibility. We have put our best foot forward in bringing about a change in the rural tapestry for good.”