‘Business Blasters’ programme kicks off in Delhi schools

Private schools can also voluntarily participate and ideas for startups based on perfumes, soaps, chocolates, eco-friendly products, and technology-based initiatives have already surfaced, the minister added.

The programme was launched in 2021 under which the top 150 startups formed by groups of students in classes 11 and 12 were provided seed money to implement their business ideas. This was an initiative under the government’s ‘entrepreneurship mindset curriculum’, a pilot project in government schools started in 2019.

Taking up the issue of unemployment, Atishi also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled central government for not solving the crisis. “On the one hand, unemployment is increasing and the youth need jobs, but on the other hand, no provision of employment is being made for the youth by the BJP-ruled central government… The Delhi government is trying to turn the youth, who emerge from Delhi’s education system, into job providers and not job seekers.”

Citing examples of startups set up after last year’s Business Blasters programme, Atishi said, “A K Logistics was a startup that is now a registered private limited company. After passing Class 12, the students employed 50 people in their transportation business. The student startup, ‘Dark Chocobitz’, which makes customised chocolates, is employing 40 women. Another student startup, which is an eco-friendly one, ‘Disposal Walaa’, is employing 20 people… the ‘Padhai Vadhai’ startup is employing 10 people.”

The minister claimed lakhs of jobs can be generated by students due to the opportunity.

According to the annual school calendar for this year’s session, the Business Blaster Expo will be held in December.