Around 350 participants attend entrepreneurship workshop; focus on Startup India, ODOP, food processing and market access for local products
TFP Bureau, Raipur/Sukma, July 4,2026 : In a bid to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment among youth, the district administration of Sukma, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce and Industries, organised a one-day ‘Tejas Workshop’ at the Shabari Auditorium, bringing together aspiring entrepreneurs, students and women’s self-help groups to explore opportunities under the Startup India initiative.
Around 350 participants, including members of women’s self-help groups, MSME entrepreneurs and students from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnic colleges, attended the workshop, which focused on innovation, the One District-One Product (ODOP) initiative, food processing and entrepreneurship based on local resources.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Executive Officer of Zila Panchayat Sukma, Mukund Thakur, said the district possesses immense potential for enterprises based on agriculture, forest produce, handicrafts and other local resources. He encouraged young people to adopt innovation and modern technology to establish their own ventures, stating that entrepreneurship could generate new employment opportunities while contributing to the district’s economic growth.
Experts from across the country conducted technical sessions on various aspects of the Startup India programme, including DPIIT recognition, startup registration, successful business models, digital marketing and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Officials from banks and incubation centres also explained the procedures for availing loans, financial assistance, investment support and business expansion.
General Manager (In-charge) of the District Trade and Industries Centre, Kailash Kashyap, said the workshop aimed to encourage youth to establish enterprises based on agriculture, forest produce, food processing and handicrafts rather than limiting their aspirations to conventional startups. He said the initiative would help local products gain better access to wider markets while creating employment opportunities within the district.
Participants described the workshop as informative and practical, and urged the administration to organise similar programmes regularly to strengthen the local startup ecosystem. Officials expressed confidence that the initiative would provide fresh momentum to entrepreneurship in Sukma and enhance the visibility of the district’s indigenous products in broader markets.
Among those present were Sukma Municipal Council President Hunga Ram Markam, Councillor Ranjit Barath, former Yoga Commission member Rajesh Nara, Lead Bank Officer Vikas Kumar, representatives from entrepreneurship development organisations, incubation centres, the Chamber of Commerce, journalists’ associations and various government departments.
