Uttar Pradesh brings policy to back startups

LUCKNOW: The state cabinet has given its go ahead to the UP Startup Policy-2020 to promote fledgling units in various areas like agriculture, health, power, khadu, education, tourism, transport etc.
Its aim would be to ensure that UP is ranked within the first three states in the Centre’s start-up rankings, create 100 incubators with at least one in each district, create an ecosystem to promote at least 10,000 start-ups, set up state of the art excellence centres and create the largest incubator in the country in Lucknow.The policy will be valid for five years and provide direct employment to 50,000 people and indirect employment to 1 lakh.
At present, the UP Information Technology and Startup Policy, 2017 is in place. However, there are more than 1,800 start-up units registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Centre and since there is no holistic policy for start-ups, it was decided to create an ecosystem for promotion of start-ups which would require a new policy, said a government spokesperson.
UP government is already providing startups with a subsidy, and has started a Rs 1,000 crore fund, along with an Angels Network to promote new entrants in the field. An online portal has also been launched for incubation and promotion of start-ups.
The cabinet also approved the principals under which the CM Shikshurta Protsahan Yojna or the Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme will be implemented. The scheme, under which students or recent school passouts will be given a chance to work in an industry of their choice and be paid Rs 2,500 per month by the state and the Centre, will be implemented as per the rules set by the Centre under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. In UP, it will be rolled out by the department of vocational education and skill development.
The implementation will be reviewed monthly by district magistrates, every two months by the director, training and employment and every three months by the principal secretary of the vocation education and skill development department. Expecting 85,000 people to participate in the scheme, the state government has allocated a budget of Rs 100 crore.
Amendments to the Pharmaceutical Policy of 2018 have also been approved. Under this, the food safety and drug administration department has been made the nodal authority. To provide skill training in pharma units, the government will provide Rs 1,000 per month for six months over a period of five years for a maximum of 50 apprentices.