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A basic survey of the participants of the
programmes and the trainers as well as the sponsoring
organisations has revealed the following:
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Selection of potential entrepreneurs is one
of the important factors for the success of any EDP. Often
the trainers take the help of local agencies like DIC, Gaon
Panchayats, educational and technical institutions, NGOs and
other promotional agencies. Priority in selection of
location for conducting EDPs is given to those areas where
such programmes have been scarce and areas, which are remote
and economically less developed.
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Trainers
opine that motivational campaigns prior to training was of
utmost importance and feel that though they have done enough
for the purpose, a lot more can still be done, and it is one
of the important factors for success of the programmes.
Often the trainers face the problem of mismatch between the
trainees and the course of training for them. The problem
can be attributed to a number of factors like- wrong
selection of trainees, improper planning and a lack of
potential trainees.
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Often it is the number of units grounded that
determine the success of a programme. The success rate of
EDPs sponsored by various sponsoring agencies in terms of
finance availed from funding agencies at 34% is not very
satisfactory.
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Most of the units set up are in the
manufacturing sector with 70% of the total units set up
belonging to this sector. Out of this a majority of the
units are in the handloom and handicrafts sector. The reason
for this could be the easy availability of raw materials and
the traditional expertise that the people of this region
have in this sector.The service sector also acquires some
share with 30% of the units being in this sector but, the
type of units set up in the service sector in the region is
not very satisfactory as most of these units are either
printing, Xerox, PCO and bookbinding units.
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Among all the states, Assam has the highest
share of units in almost all the sectors. The reason for
this could be the locational advantage that this state
enjoys for being the gateway to the entire region. The least
developed state in terms of units being set up is Manipur.
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A higher proportion of entrepreneurs fall in
the age group 25-30 years, which is considered as youth
population, but the highest conversion rate is for those
belonging to the age group, 40-45 years. This indicates that
experience has a very significant role to play in the
moulding of an individual to an entrepreneur.The conversion
rate for postgraduates is the highest indicating that the
highly educated youth of today prefer to be job givers
rather than job seekers.
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Contradictory to the belief that business
acumen generally develops in children from joint families
with a business history the study has revealed that the
reverse is true as the number of participants from nuclear
families comprise almost 73% of the total population
(population under consideration for the purpose of the
study). This could be due to the fact that the society is
undergoing a vast transition from the traditional joint
family system to nuclear ones.
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Most of the units being set up by the
participants has revealed that the status of the urban areas
is far better because out the 29% of the participants
belonging to urban areas, 48% have started their own units
where as this is only 34% in case of semi-urban and 40% in
case of rural areas.
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The sole intention of joining an EDP is to
generate employment for themselves by setting up their own
ventures, which is again quite apparent from the conversion
of participants into entrepreneurs, which is fairly high at
40% for the unemployed. Even the student community has shown
satisfactory result in terms of setting up a unit after
attending an EDP. This could be an indication towards the
changing attitude of the people of this region towards
self-employment and towards entrepreneurship as a career.
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It can be mentioned that the EDPs are
designed to develop the attitude of the participants and
improve their knowledge and skill levels. It was found that
this has been done only to some extent as far as the
trainees’ views are concerned. Another interesting finding
is that of the 3% of respondents who feel that the training
programme was not able to develop skill, knowledge and
attitude, 24% have turned entrepreneurs. This however
reveals that even though in the trainee’s view the programme
was not able to develop the skills to the requisite level,
it was able to trigger the entrepreneurial spirit in him.
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Family support is one of the essential
ingredients for the development of a enterprising nature in
an individual. We have a culture of very closely-knit
families and all-important decisions, including a desire to
go for entrepreneurship as well as taking risk, needs the
support of the family members. It is encouraging to find
maximum of the trainees having a positive reaction from
their families.
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A desire to be on one’s own is the primary
reason for joining EDPs as 45% of the participants chose
entrepreneurship from a desire to be on their own, Only 6%
of the participants were influenced by EDP and chose to be
entrepreneurs.
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Finance is the biggest problem that the
entrepreneurs of the region face. Majority of the trainees
are from low-income groups and so own investment is also not
available.
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Post training services are not carried out to
the required extent. This can be attributed to a number of
problems faced by the trainers in constantly monitoring
their programmes. Still considering the importance of the
post training services, necessary steps should have been
taken for effective implementation of the escort services.
52% of the trainees complained that they did not receive any
post-training services.
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EDPs did have a positive impact on the
trainees, as 78% of the participants who are yet to set up
units are still interested in setting up their units. The
common reasons for delay in setting up their own units are
lack of finance, procedural hindrances, lack of
infrastructure to support entrepreneurs etc
