Shashank Mani Tripathi and the hard-working group of organisers at Jagriti Yatra, a non-profit organisation based in Deoria, eastern Uttar Pradesh, are a happy bunch.
Their entrepreneurship programme - now in its sixth year - has attracted 450 enthusiastic young yatris, or participants, from rural and urban areas across the country. The programme is still on, and abuzz with discussion, innovative topics and ideas.
Over a fortnight, the yatris attend a series of events in 12 locations around the country, to build their entrepreneurship skills and develop a business plan. Some yatris receive need-based scholarships.
The yatra reached Deoria district in eastern Uttar Pradesh today (Friday). On Thursday, yatris attended a session at St. Xavier's College, Patna, setting the mood for Biz Gyaan Tree, an event in which participants present business plans. The Patna event was the eighth stop, and future stops include a discussion featuring high-profile panellists in New Delhi.
Esha Gupta, yatri and Marketing Manager at Godrej Security Solutions, says: "Today, we were told about financials, different areas of how a business model can be established, right from setting up a team and systems and processes, and I think that would be helpful."
Tripathi, who is the Non-Executive Chairman of Jagriti Yatra, notes that the effect of the discussions is already apparent. "There was some reluctance to take the bull by the horns yesterday… and I think now there will be renewed energy," he says.
For Biz Gyaan Tree, participants are divided into several groups, and present business strategies in fields such as education, health, water, sanitation, and communication technology in rural areas. As a run-up to the event, they visited model social enterprises such as Aravind Eye Care System in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and Gram Vikas in Berhampur, Odisha.
On Saturday, January 4, the groups of yatris will develop business strategies to address issues in a handful of villages in Deoria. The groups with the best strategies will be called back to Deoria at the end of February, to further develop their plans. The best plans will receive grants. Last year, three groups won grants of Rs 1 lakh each, funded by Google for Entrepreneurs.
The yatra seeks to encourage young people to build enterprises. Tripathi of Jagriti Yatra says he wants to create 100,000 entrepreneurs by 2020, and adds that the Biz Gyaan Tree model can be replicated elsewhere in the country.
Jagriti Yatra is part of a non-profit called Jagriti Sewa Sansthan, based in Deoria, which runs social and community development programmes.
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