Mysore/Mysuru: Joint Director of the Department of Industries and Commerce Dinesh has called upon youths to be self-employed rather than wait endlessly for Government jobs that are hard to come by.

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Special sales and marketing development and NSSH Scheme awareness’ workshop organised jointly by National SC/ST Hub and Mysuru District SC/ST Entrepreneurs Association at the Institution of Engineers on JLB Road here on Tuesday.

Pointing out that the Industries Department has announced ‘Become Entrepreneurs- Provide Jobs’ as its theme this year, Dinesh called upon the young community to become entrepreneurs rather than spend time awaiting jobs.

Stressing on the need for a thorough study of markets, the tender process, Government schemes and supply and demand chain, he observed that lack of information and inputs can hinder success to a large extent. In this backdrop, these type of workshops will help the enterprising youth to become entrepreneurs and establish start-ups as there are plenty   of opportunities.

National SC/ST Hub State President A. Kokila said that there are more than 250 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in the country. Pointing out that 4 percent of industrial and raw material supplies is reserved for SC/ST entrepreneurs, she said that, however, it is disappointing to note that the share of SC/ST entrepreneurs is only 0.8 percent.

Highlighting that major Public Sector Undertakings such as HAL, BEL, BEML etc., have a turnover of thousands of crores of rupees, Kokila observed that SC/ST entrepreneurs have a lot of scope for supplies to PSUs.

Mysuru District SC/ST Entrepreneurs Association President R. Manjunath, office-bearers D. Eshwar Chakkadi, Shivanna, Vijayashankar, BEML General Manager Krishnamurthy, SWR ADMM K.L. Pandey and others were present.