Performance Evaluation of Entrepreneurship Development Programme in India

Abstract

Considering the initial constraints a small entrepreneur would face while initiating and launching his/her venture, the Government of India envisaged a promotional package in mid-fifties to facilitate setting up of new ventures. The package consisted of financial assistance and incentives. Infrastructural facilities and technical and managerial guidance through a network of a number of support organisations, etc. at the central as well as state and local levels. It was, however, realized by the planners and policy makers that facilities and incentives were necessary but were not sufficient in themselves to ensure adequate entrepreneurial response. In fact, entrepreneurial growth required focus on human resources also. With this background, the Government and financial organisations started thinking in terms of fostering entrepreneurship through training intervention. Towards this a pioneering initiative was taken in Gujarat, in the late sixties. A 3 month training programme known as Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) was evolved. The programme was meant for new and selected entrepreneurs who had latent entrepreneurial potential. It laid emphasis on (1) setting up a small venture; (ii) managing it; and (iii) making profit out of it. The initial programmes were oriented towards business knowledge and skills. Later, behavioural inputs (especially, Achievement Motivation Training-AMT) were also made a regular feature of the training package.