Mumbai, June 9 : To encourage entrepreneurship among youth, the Government of Maharashtra has been implementing several initiatives. In line with this effort, the state government, in collaboration with voluntary organizations, launched the ‘Saksham’ programme through the Udhyam Learning Foundation over the past two years in government and aided schools as well as junior colleges in Nagpur and Amravati districts. The initiative has effectively nurtured an entrepreneurial mindset among students.
The programme was introduced under the vision of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Udhyam Learning Foundation, founded by Mekin Maheshwari as a not-for-profit organization, aims to instill project-based learning, entrepreneurial thinking, and skills among students aged 14 to 25. The programme also works towards enhancing teachers’ teaching capabilities.
‘Saksham’ helps develop creativity, confidence, and problem-solving abilities in students. It aims to reach approximately 45 lakh students across 17,000 schools and junior colleges in the state. So far, the foundation has imparted entrepreneurship education to over 29 lakh students in government schools, colleges, and ITIs across 12 states.
Chief Minister Fadnavis expressed confidence that with nearly 14 lakh youths entering the workforce annually in Maharashtra, programmes like Saksham can play a vital role in enhancing their skills and preparing them for self-employment or entrepreneurship. He emphasized that the state government has created a conducive ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
The Chief Minister further stated that coordinated efforts between state agencies, local self-government bodies, and voluntary organizations to expand programmes like Saksham can effectively plant the seeds of entrepreneurship through education.
In 2023-24, the Saksham programme was implemented in select schools in Nagpur district, leaving a significant impact on students by instilling entrepreneurial values early in their academic lives. Former CEO of the Nagpur Zilla Parishad, Soumya Sharma, highlighted that the programme enabled students to practically understand how employment and self-employment can be created, increasing their self-confidence.
Under Udhyam’s pilot projects, the programme was run in 30 schools in Nagpur district and showcased 40 student-led business projects. In Amravati district, 8,000 students across 212 schools participated, with plans to expand to 400 schools in 2025-26. So far, 15,000 students across the state have taken part in Saksham, leading to the presentation of over 2,500 business ideas, creation of 1,500 prototypes, and more than 500 students actually selling products. Additionally, 500 teachers have been trained in entrepreneurship, indicating a positive shift in student mindsets, according to information provided by the Udhyam Learning Foundation.
