Mizoram delegation meets Jitendra Singh, submits memorandum on key state issues
State General Secretary and former member of the BJP National Minority Morcha, Delson, was also part of the delegation.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday said that the “Purple Revolution” originating from Doda has offered a Himalayan model of startup and entrepreneurship in the country.
The Minister said that the initiative, which began from Bhaderwah in district Doda of Jammu and Kashmir with lavender cultivation and aroma-based enterprises, has evolved into a national success story. He noted that the model has now expanded to other Himalayan states and the Northeast. This has given rise to a new genre of startups rooted in local resources, scientific innovation and sustainable livelihood generation, Dr Jitendra Singh underscored.
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The Union Minister was addressing a programme at the CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) here on the occasion of National Startup Day.
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He said that these are the best times for young Indians, as they now have the opportunity to earn well by starting their own ventures and emerge as job creators rather than job seekers.
He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with over two lakh startups operating across diverse sectors, including biotechnology, information technology, agriculture and healthcare. Earlier, there were a mere 350 to 400 startups in the country.
The Minister underlined the growing role of women entrepreneurs in India’s startup journey. He informed that 60,000 to 70,000 startups are currently led by women. This reflects inclusive growth and the breaking of traditional barriers. He said that women-led enterprises are playing a crucial role in social transformation and economic development.
Dr Jitendra Singh also emphasised the transformative impact of the National Education Policy (NEP), which has redefined India’s education system by offering students the freedom to choose subjects based on their aptitude, interests and skills. He said this flexibility is nurturing creativity, critical thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset among students, aligning education with the needs of a knowledge-driven economy.
He highlighted the pivotal role played by CSIR-IIIM in bridging the gap between scientific research and commercial application. He said the institute has been instrumental in promoting innovation-led entrepreneurship in areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agri-innovation, medicinal plants and aroma-based industries, thereby strengthening the regional startup ecosystem.
He urged young innovators, researchers and students to leverage the enabling ecosystem created by the government. He said they need to contribute to nation-building through science, technology and entrepreneurship.
Dr Jitendra Singh also virtually launched nearly 150 roads and bridges in his Parliamentary Constituency under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). He also laid the foundation stone of dozens of connectivity projects in the districts of Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Kathua. Three roads and six bridges constructed under the PMGSY at a total sanctioned cost of Rs 3,898 lakh were inaugurated by Dr Jitendra Singh.
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