EDI moots Commission on Entrepreneurship

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) has recommended to set up a permanent National Commission on Entrepreneurship to institutionalise entrepreneurship development in the country. EDI has made recommendations in its draft of National Entrepreneurship Policy submitted to the union ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) recently.

"In order to encourage entrepreneurship in the country, there is a need for a coordinating and advocacy agency at national level. For this, a National Commission on Entrepreneurship should be formed which will provide a strategic direction to entrepreneurship development in India," said Dinesh Awasthi, director, EDI.

EDI has drafted the National Entrepreneurship Policy on the directions of Sam Pitroda, technocrat and advisor to the Prime Minister with support from ministry of MSME, and IDBI Bank.

"Several ministries at Central and state government levels are directly or indirectly engaged in promotion of entrepreneurship. Therefore, we found that there is a need for inter-ministerial and inter-governmental coordination through an independent agency similar to the Prime Minister's National Skill Development Council," said Awasthi.

As per the draft policy, the government of India will set up a permanent National Commission on Entrepreneurship with Prime Minister as its chairperson. The proposed commission will be mandated to evolve a five year plan and strategies for promotion of entrepreneurship. Also, it will work out methodology for implementing policies, strategies and plans by coordination with relevant departments and ministries. The commission will also be given a task to help state governments evolve their entrepreneurship policy in consonance with the national policy. "The commission will facilitate capacity building of entrepreneurs rather than enterprises alone. It will support government in formulating entrepreneur-friendly policies," he said.