New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) The Swadeshi Jagran Manch and other affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have together set up a total of 448 centres to promote entrepreneurship and help people, especially women and youth, start their own venture to become self-reliant.
Addressing a press conference here, Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan said that these centres have been set up as part of a joint programme ‘Swavalambi Bharat Abhiyan’ (SBA) launched about two years ago to “motivate” people, especially the youth and women, to start their own venture instead of searching jobs.
“Historically, India had been a champion of entrepreneurship and was recognised as the golden bird. To regain the lost stature, the SBA was launched, which has completed its two-year journey so far,” Mahajan told reporters.
“Its objective is to develop an unemployment free, poverty free and prosperous Bharat,” he said, adding that there was a need to change the “mindset of people, especially the youth”, whose prime focus is to get a job in the government sector or private sector even as the employment opportunities in the two sectors are limited.
The SJM co-convenor said 448 centres are operational till now.
“These kendras work as a nodal point for youths to get guidance on self-employment, entrepreneurship, jobs, startups and other activities,” SJM co-convenor said.
“These kendras (centres) are a bridge for youth to engage in the SBA mission,” he added.
Mahajan said that the joint initiative was initially launched by eight organisations, including the SJM, working in the field of labour, farming, cooperatives, small enterprises, education, consumer affairs and other sectors.
“The total number of the organisations today involved in the initiative is 32,” he added.
The organisations participating in the move include Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharati, Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat, Sahakar Bharati, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Rashtriya Sewa Bharati, Vidya Bharati, Paryavaran Gatividhi, Hindu Jagran Manch, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal and Deendayal Shodh Sansthan, Mahajan said.
The other organisations include Zoho Corporation, Gayatri Parivar, Kaneri Math, De Asara, Vakrangi, IID, Jagriti Yatra, Sapio Analytics, Choyal Group, CRISP India, Association of Indian Universities and Bachpan Group, he added.

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