Expert panel "busts" Govt of India startup dream: Majority lower strata youth prefer "secure" employment

By A Representative
At a time when the Government of India is keen to promote startup enterprises, a spot survey in a Niti Aayog report has found that just about 17 per cent of the urban youth, belonging to the lower strata, are interested self-employment or entrepreneurship, and majority would prefer, instead, permanent, preferably government job.
The survey says, while “87 per cent of respondents in semi-urban areas and 68 per cent in rural areas” might go in for self-employment, this is mainly because of fewer opportunities are available in the formal sector. Even in informal sectors, it adds, “employment in private or family occupations are lower”.
Job security is what the respondents across all areas prefer the most. Thus, the report says, “Over 80 per cent of respondents in semi-urban and rural areas also aspire for government jobs”, adding, “Over 60 per cent of the respondents across location, whether in urban, semi-urban or rural areas, would prefer the security of steady income from a job.”
The survey forms part of the “Report of the Expert Committee on Innovation and Entrepreneurship” of the Planning Commission successor body, Niti Aayog, prepared under the chairmanship of Prof Tarun Khanna. Its aim was to “review the existing initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship in India, especially those efforts that result in widespread job growth.”
The report comments, while the survey “highlights societal preferences for job security”, it clearly shows that “while respondents felt that they could earn more money if they succeeded as an entrepreneur, they have a high desire to get a fixed income.”
It adds, “They can neither envision a small business doing well in their hometown, nor do they have sufficient confidence, encouragement from friends and family or access to role models to venture into self-employment or entrepreneurship.”
The survey finds that there is a much higher desire among the females towards self-employment (62 per cent) than male (45 per cent). At the same time, it adds, females were found to be “more likely to opt for higher education (54 per cent), as opposed to their male counterparts (five per cent).
The report is based on an interview with 195 lower strata youths in 10 Pratham Institutes in Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It insists, the survey results suggest that much remains be done “to encourage education, vocational education and self-employment.”
The survey further states that “across all geographic areas, 97 per cent of the youth perceived that access to start-up was a barrier to entrepreneurship”, adding, “Nearly 75 per cent of respondents in semi-urban areas and over 90 per cent of respondents in rural areas indicated that they would opt for entrepreneurship if a government scheme provided support.”
“This points towards an interesting information gap that can be bridged to make lower income youth become aware of existing government programmes, policies and schemes to support entrepreneurship, as well as non-governmental funding and patient capital sources available to support business or self-employment, particularly in rural or semi-rural areas”, the report believes.

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Dr. Ram Bux Singh: Biogas pioneer’s legacy gains urgency amid energy crisis

By A Representative In an era defined by a global energy crisis and a desperate search for sustainable solutions, the visionary work of an Indian scientist from the mid-20th century is finding renewed, urgent relevance. Dr. Ram Bux Singh , a pioneering figure in biogas and renewable energy , is being posthumously honored by the Government of India, even as his decades-old innovations provide a blueprint for today’s challenges.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Search This Blog