Leh, Sept 13: A week-long training programme on enterprise creation, designed to nurture entrepreneurial abilities among students, concluded today at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Leh, under the banner of Enterprising Ladakh.
The initiative, steered by the Department of Higher Education and implemented by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, brought together more than seventy trainees from varied trades. The sessions, which began on September 8, sought to cultivate skills in ideation, business planning and financial management while also exposing participants to government support systems and funding avenues.
The programme was conducted under the guidance of the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, supported by Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal and Secretary of Higher and Technical Education and Skill Development, Smt. Bhanu Prabha, IAS. At the core of its design were EDII Director General Dr. Sunil Shukla and Director of Projects (Government) Dr. Amit Kumar Dwivedi, who envisioned a platform where technical education could be blended with entrepreneurial practice.
The six-day exercise featured interactive sessions and group work facilitated by faculty from EDII alongside local entrepreneurs and subject specialists. Participants were introduced to opportunity sensing, business model development and preparation of Detailed Project Reports. The inclusion of awareness modules on government schemes and mentoring mechanisms further anchored the sessions in practical application.
Local business leaders offered first-hand perspectives. Mr. Tashi of Ladakh Herbs and Mr. Stanzin of Silk Route Energy spoke of their ventures, underlining both challenges and opportunities in the region. Food Technology Expert Dr. Tenzin Chodden delivered a special session on possibilities in the food and hospitality sector, which drew particular interest from the trainees.
The concluding day saw participants present their business ideas using the Business Model Canvas. Among the projects that stood out were Rustal Drinks, a seabuckthorn-based herbal beverage presented by a group led by Mr. Tswang Namgil; Herbal Tea, aimed at both residents and visitors, by Ms. Tsewang Chuskit; and a proposal for online coaching and tutoring services to strengthen educational access.
Faculty members of ITI, including Superintendent Sonam Angchok and Instructor Ajaz Ahmed, extended consistent support during the week. Expert contributions from Dr. Diwakar Singh, Abhishake Nandan, Rigzin Wangdus and Mr. Ravikant Bharti of EDII lent depth to the sessions.
The programme is being viewed as a fresh step towards building an ecosystem of enterprise in Ladakh. By aligning technical skills with entrepreneurial learning, it is expected to foster self-reliance and encourage the youth of the region to emerge as creators of opportunities rather than seekers of employment.
