JKEDI ground aspiring entrepreneurs before taking off

Mir Farhat
Srinagar, May 31:   Aspiring entrepreneurs who have got trained from the State’s Entrepreneurship Development Institute last year have blamed officials in the institute for blocking their way to kickstart their ventures.
Scores of aggrieved young men told Excelsior they have completed their general business training from the institute in December last year. “JKEDI officials told us you could start business within 60 days after the process of completing the document work,” they said.
They said they completed all their paperwork as per the procedure laid down by the institute, but the institute itself put roadblocks in starting their ventures.
“The officials in the institute only sent us from one room to the other. All of them ignored us,” said a young man who aspires to launch his pharma store.
“We gave documents to the institute, and even produced license of the business venture, but yet the nod was not given by the institute,” said another youth who wanted to start fast-food outlet.
One of the candidates wanted to open a restaurant, but has not been successful yet as the Tourism Department officials told him to show them the restaurant first.
“How could I show them the building of the restaurant when I could not build one on my own money? I had gone to EDI to get the necessary training, and later decided to obtain loan to construct a restaurant or rent one,” he said.
The youth said that the Government and the EDI have left them in midway with nowhere to go. “We can’t apply for any job, nor have we started our business yet,” the worried youth said.
Insiders in the institute said candidates with political influence do not usually see such hurdles.
Director EDI Dr Mohammad Ismail Parray claimed there is absolutely no problem faced by the aspiring businessmen. “Still, if candidates have any complaint or face any hurdle from any official, he/she should come to my office for its redressal,” Dr Parray said.