Telangana Startup Yatra to identify innovative minds

Hyderabad: A 20-day India Telangana Startup Yatra (ITSY) is all set to cover different districts across the state to create awareness, identify and reward the innovative young minds in Telangana.

The Yatra which was flagged off by Minister for Information Technology KT Rama Rao at Hyderabad on Saturday will be covering in its journey Mahbubnagar on September 17 and Nalgonda, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Adilabad, Nirmal and Nizamabad on subsequent dates to end at Sangareddy on October 1.

And, at the end of the Yatra, 200 innovations would be showcased in the grand finale to be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTU-H) on October 5.

The Yatra touches different colleges in these places to create awareness about the Startup ecosystem, including various schemes of the State and Central governments to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

Prior to the launch of the Yatra, a panel discussion was held in which former Brigadier P Ganesham, Palle Srujana, Ajit Rangnekar, former Dean of Indian School of Business(ISB), Prof V Venkata Ramana, Vice-Chairman, Telangana State Council of Higher Education addressed the participants at a panel discussion on the Startup Ecosystem.

The panelists outlined the need for developing and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem through programs like Startup Yatra and also dissemination of the various schemes of the Central and State Governments.

KTR asked all the Vice-Chancellors’ in the State universities to adopt the German model of “Practice Schools” to give the much needed practical exposure to the students. He stressed the need for Universities of Telangana to give more flexibility to teachers and students to pursue innovation and promote entrepreneurship.

He suggested that TSCHE must be in the forefront in suggesting suitable curricular changes and also facilitate students who wish to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams with ease and without academic pressure.

Taking a similar line, Prof. T Papi Reddy, Chairman, TSCHE exhorted the Universities to adopt a flexible approach towards encouraging teachers and students to promote innovation in many areas which impact our society. He said that TSCHE and IT and C Departments would jointly identify the outstanding innovators and reward them the “Innovation Awards” from the academic year 2019-2020. In the panel discussion, Ganesham stressed the need to promote rural entrepreneurship and tap the hitherto untapped potential amongst the rural students.

Ajit Rangnekar said that with the advent of technology, the entire gamut of Higher Education would undergo a sea change right from teaching-learning processes to evaluation and employment patterns and opportunities.

Prof. V Venkata Ramana, Vice Chairman, TSCHE explained various initiatives being undertaken by TSCHE and also the activation of Entrepreneurship Development Cells amongst colleges and Universities in Telangana. He emphasised that there is a gradual shift of “mindsets” of students from joining jobs to creating value and newer opportunities.

Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, IT & C said that the Universities should take up projects in close coordination and support from industry and assured the innovators that any notable innovation shall be encouraged by the State government.

Phanindra Sama, Chief Innovation Officer, for the Telangana government, explained how the Startup India Telangana Yatra would identify innovators during the 20 days of its visit to various colleges in several districts of Telangana.