30 Students Receive Entrepreneurship Training at Government Girls College

SHIMLA, Aug. 7: A three-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) concluded successfully at Government Girls College, Shimla, equipping 30 students with practical knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship, innovation, startup development, and business management.

The programme, held from August 5 to 7, was designed to nurture entrepreneurial thinking and encourage students to become job creators rather than job seekers.

The inaugural session was led by Dr. Kartik S.M. Chauhan, Vice-Principal of the college, and Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Head of the Department of Commerce. The valedictory session was attended by Principal Dr. Anurita Saxena, who distributed participation certificates to all 30 students.

The training was conducted by Gautami Srivastava, with expert sessions by Varun Shukla, Senior Consultant at the District Industries Centre (DIC), Shimla, and Ankush Verma and Shikha Kanwar from NITCON.

On the first day, participants were introduced to entrepreneurial mindset, opportunity identification, customer behaviour analysis, problem validation, user interviews, value proposition, minimum viable product (MVP), and business model fundamentals.

The second day focused on market entry strategies, startup operations, finance, pricing, regulatory compliance, risk management, team building, leadership, and startup culture. Students also participated in group activities to transform identified problems into viable startup ideas.

On the concluding day, participants received guidance on business pitching, venture readiness, business model development, and project presentations. They also learned about government support schemes and the startup ecosystem before presenting their business ideas to an expert panel for evaluation.

Addressing the valedictory session, the experts highlighted that entrepreneurship is not only about starting a business but also about driving innovation, self-reliance, and positive social change. Students were encouraged to set ambitious goals, embrace challenges, and build sustainable enterprises with integrity and innovation.

The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates and mentoring sessions on business feasibility, market linkages, financial planning, and growth strategies. Organisers said the initiative aimed to inspire students to convert innovative ideas into successful enterprises while contributing to employment generation and economic development.