Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday launched amended Mukhyamantri Swayamrojgar Yojana providing collateral free loan for the local entrepreneurs through state-run Economic Development Corporation.
Talking to reporters after launching the program in Panaji, Sawant said that the aim is to ensure that Goans become self-reliant.
“We are looking self reliance in all the sectors. Entrepreneurship is in the DNA of Goans. We have been traditionally in fishing business, farming and other activities, but eventually things changed,” the chief minister said.
Sawant said that this is the right for self reliance considering the kind of support that has been given by the government for the purpose.
The chief minister said that the youngsters were reluctant to be entrepreneurs initially but due to efforts of the government, they are showing the interest.
He said that State Director of Technical Education and Director of Skill Education have been working with the college students providing them the training in entrepreneurship. He said that the central government’s Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) has been hand holding with the state government in the program.
“The students are learning entrepreneurship skills while being graduated in their respective colleges. This is a revolutionary step for the state,” Sawant said.
The chief minister said that there are abundant opportunities of entrepreneurship in the field of manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, medical and others which were earlier taken by the non-Goans.
He said that the Goans can now avail these opportunities.
