Pilot Project on Entrepreneurship Development in Holy Cities

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, has desired to implement a Pilot Project on Promoting Entrepreneurship Development in Holy Cities of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and Pandharpur (Maharashtra). NIESBUD is implementing organization for the Pilot Project. NIESBUD, being the Implementing Agency is implementing the Pilot Project with selected Local Implementing Agencies (LIAs).

Actionable:

Administration of Survey for identification of Grey Parts which require Intervention for Entrepreneurship Development in Context of Religious Tourism – 3 Months
Capacity Building of Existing Stakeholders
Entrepreneurship Development Interventions
Communication Involvement, Engagement and Training
Promotion and Improvement of income generation activities in Religious Tourism through mentoring and handholding

Objectives of the Project:

To identify the economic dimensions in Holy Cities.
To map and prioritize major economic activities in religious tourism in the identified holy cities.
To conduct surveys in order to carry out an elaborate skill audit with respect to religious tourism for assessing skill gaps.
To identify the beneficiaries for the programme, mobilize them and conduct community awareness.
To promote entrepreneurial activities related with religious tourism in the identified holy cities in two broad areas – i. new entrepreneur creation, ii. Scale up of existing enterprises.
To establish a local project management unit (PMU) and to provide last mile mentoring support to existing and new entrepreneurs including capacity building, strategic advice and legal compliance
The expected outputs (entrepreneurial activities based upon locally available skills, market demand, induced skills etc.) at the end of the project are Setting up and expanding Micro and Small enterprises in - Manufacturing sector, Service enterprises, Trading etc.

Expected outcome of Project

Growth of economic activities in the respective Holy Cities
Growth of income & savings of the local residents
Growth in employment opportunities
Increased number of self-employment
Growth in business of Banks and micro-financing institutions
Development of a validated Model for Economic development for areas of religious tourism

Activities to be Undertaken:

S. No.	Activity
1	Establishing a local project management unit (PMU)
2	Identification of the economic dimensions in Holy Cities
3	Mapping and prioritizing major economic activities in religious tourism in the holy city
4	Conducting Scoping Study after analyzing value chains for identification of Grey Parts which require Intervention for Entrepreneurship Development in Context of Religious Tourism
5	Identification of the beneficiaries for the program, mobilizing them and conduct of community awareness
6	Design and Develop Training Programs after analyzing value chains in consultation with NIESBUD EDP, ESDP, MDP based on local demand and resources, Capacity Building Workshops on Business Idea Generation, Taxation (GST), Book Keeping & Accounting, FSSAI, Compliances & Legal Formalities, Small Business Management, Business Development and Sales for Small Business, e – Commerce, etc. in the area of Religious Tourism.
7	Capacity Building of identified beneficiaries for the project through direct and indirect interventions – Phase 1
8	Handholding, Mentoring of Beneficiaries and Promotion of entrepreneurial activities related with religious tourism in the holy city mainly in two broad areas – new entrepreneur creation, and Scale up of existing enterprises Grounding of 150 New Entrepreneurs and Scaling Up 200 Existing Entrepreneurs
9	Capacity Building of identified beneficiaries for the project through direct and indirect interventions – Phase 2
10	Handholding, Mentoring of Beneficiaries and Promotion of entrepreneurial activities related with religious tourism in the holy city mainly in two broad areas – new entrepreneur creation, and Scale up of existing enterprises Grounding of 150 New Entrepreneurs and Scaling Up 200 Existing Entrepreneurs
11	Any Other Activity if Required
12	Project Closure

Project Progress

VARANASI

Local Implementing Agency - M/s AMS (Academy of Management Studies), New Delhi

Progress:

MoU Signed between NIESBUD & LIA.
Establishment of PMU
PMU Team Onboarding
Exploration of economic dimensions pertaining to religious tourism
Identification of potential sectors for starting an enterprise with regards to religious tourism
Identification of Stakeholders
Development of Questionnaires for Scoping Studies

HARIDWAR

Local Implementing Agency - M/s Foresight Edutech Private Limited, New Delhi

Progress:

MoU Signed between NIESBUD & LIA.
Establishment of PMU
PMU Team Onboarding
Identification of Value Chains around Religious Tourism
Identification of potential sectors for starting an enterprise with regards to religious tourism
Identification of Stakeholders
Development of Questionnaires for Scoping Studies

More Details:

PANDHARPUR

Local Implementing Agency - M/s MITCON Consultancy and Engineering Services Limited,Pune

Progress:

MoU Signed between NIESBUD & LIA.