As part of its ‘entrepreneurship mindset curriculum’, the Delhi government started a programme called Business Blasters across all its senior secondary schools in September by giving Rs.2,000 as seed money to class 11 and 12 students to develop their entrepreneurship ideas.
Under this programme, students from Classes 11 and 12 of Delhi government-run schools get a seed funding of Rs.2,000 to support their innovative business ideas. The Business Blasters programme complements traditional learning and creates an experiential platform for students to ‘learn by doing’. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia asked people to be a part of the change and help Delhi government students become self-reliant individuals and future job providers rather than job seekers.
Addressing a global conclave in Delhi, Atishi, AAP MLA from Kalkaji and former advisor to the education minister of Delhi, said it was crucial to work towards developing an entrepreneurial mindset, right from school, and the Delhi government’s Business Blasters programme was a step in that direction. The programme was launched in more than 1,000 government-run schools in September. To date, around 3.5 lakh students have been given the seed money to produce an idea and a plan to earn profit or solve a social problem. The Delhi Government has allocated Rs.60 crore to extend the programme.
Divyanshi, 16, a student benefitted from the programme, said, “We were given a seed amount of Rs.2,000, and with our paintings, we managed to earn a profit of Rs.30,000. The Business Blasters programme has taught us things we learn after college, now. This includes how to communicate with people, customer management, the value of money and, most importantly, time management,” said the member of the team that is into selling paintings.
The Delhi Government has launched the official Business Blasters website to support the school-going entrepreneurs. The website serves as a central repository of information on judges, students and their projects featured in the Business Blasters TV show, which was launched recently. The TV show showcases various developments, updates and news about the programme. Visitors can watch the show on the website as well. A special section of the website is dedicated to the project journeys of students and the story behind their ideas. Different stakeholders can register on the website to be part of the programme as a mentor, investor or buyer.
India has a global reputation for entrepreneurship as the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world as per the Economic Survey 2020-2021.