SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL `Small is Beautiful', said Mr. Keshav Kamat, President of the GSIA while addressing the Industrial Motivational campaign for Entrepreneurship Awareness organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) of St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, Goa, in association with the SISI-Margao, Goa. In his key note address at the Inaugural function, Mr. Kamat urged the students to be observant about the needs of the society and to create a desire within themselves to start small businesses in order to meet these needs. Shri. K. V. Ravikumar, Asst. Director of SISI, Goa, welcomed the gathering. In his welcome address, Mr. Ravikumar highlighted that today's youth must be job providers and not job seekers. He also emphasized on the role of different Government bodies like the EDC, SIDBI, DIC, in promoting small industries and Entrepreneurship Development in the State.
The President of the Inaugural function, Mr. B. S. Shinde, Director of SISI, elaborated on the technomanagerial and economic consultancy services provided by SISI for the development of small scale industries. He also spoke about the Entrepreneurship Development Programmes conducted by SISI for specific target groups in the State. Mr. Shinde appreciated the efforts of the College in establishing the Entrepreneurship Development Cell to instill the spirit of Entrepreneurship among the students, which is the need of the hour and assured whole hearted co-operation from the SISI to the College in this endeavour. On the occasion, the Principal, Prof. Newman Fernandes, while addressing the students on entrepreneurship emphasized the role of the faculty in encouraging innovative thinking as a part of their teaching. He also spoke about the need for the different departments in the College to undertake consultancy services which is a step towards self employment. He encouraged College Departments to have production centres. The inaugural function ended with the vote of thanks proposed by Mrs. Yasmin Shaikh, convenor of the Entrepreneurship Development Cell. Subsequently during the day, there were talks by different resource persons. Mr. K. S. Shrikant, Manager of SIDBI spoke about the schemes of Finance to assist tiny/SSI Units. Mr. Gracias, Vice Principal of S.S.H.S. Shiroda while speaking on Entrepreneurial Motivation said that in today's world, it is not slow and steady that wins the race but one needs to be fast and steady to win the race. He suggested SWOT Analysis before venturing into any business. Mr. Carlos de Souza, Deputy General Manger of EDC Ltd., made the students aware of the financial assistance provided by EDC to set up self employment. Mr. Shivanand, Asst. Director of SISI, Goa, spoke about Industrial sickness, its causes and remedies. The purpose of this session was not to discourage any budding entrepreneurs but to enable them to be cautious. Mr. Arun Kaktikar, Asst. Director of SISI, Goa, spoke about the factors to be taken into consideration while preparing the project report. He also highlighted on the points to be emphasized while doing the techno-economic feasibility of the project.
