By: RSSFACTS Web Desk

Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspired organisation in India primarily works on public policy in the  economic sphere. The organisation is around three-decades old. Its national co-convenor Dr Ashwani Mahajan, an economist who teaches at Delhi University, held an important press conference in New Delhi on 15 January, 2024 where he talked about how  Swawlambi Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), a campaign to make Indians self-reliant  is helping large sections of society by empowering them economically.  Here is the full text of the official statement issued in this Press Conference by Dr Mahajan.

“Due to unbridled globalisation, manufacturing had been the major victim, share of Manufacturing dived from 21.5 percent in 1998-99 to 16 percent in 2017. Reason for the same was sharp reduction in average weighted tariff from 23.5 percent in 2004 to less than 7 percent in 2005-06. Due to dip in the share of Manufacturing, it resulted in loss of employment opportunities. Make in India initiative and later Aatmanirbhar Bharat of Modi Government has helped in boosting manufacturing to regain lost employment opportunities and create more employment avenues as well; and we need to continue our efforts in this direction.

Though, India failed to ride the Industrial Revolution 1 and missed the bus during subsequent Industrial Revolutions. India is currently is the shining star amidst 4th Industrial Revolution through its presence in Technology like UPI, AI, robotics, drones, space, software etc.

During the Covid period, the hollow promises of globalisation were exposed as the material needed for manufacturing vaccines were not shared especially with developing economies; and global value chain was found to be missing, amidst worst ever pandemic.

Historically, India had been a champion of entrepreneurship and was recognised as Golden Bird. To regain the lost stature, Swavalmbi Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) was started, which has completed its two-year journey after its official launch on 12 January 2022. Its objective is to develop unemployment free , poverty free, and prosperous Bharat. Initially eight organizations working in the field of labour, farming, cooperatives, small enterprises, education, consumer affairs etc. came together. Currently, 32 organizations are on board with SBA.

Between April to June 2023, the SBA organized a nationwide workshop, spread over all states, in which more than 6500 participants attended. Subsequently from 30 July to 10 October 2023, a nationwide entrepreneurship promotion program was conducted by SBA. This phase of the program was spread over 511 districts having 4413 separate events. This witnessed the participation of a massive 820850 youths. In these programs, 3938 entrepreneurs were identified for recognition and facilitation. Entrepreneurs Development Programs were organised across 2701 high school and intermediate colleges i.e., 10+2 schools, 1555 institutions and colleges, and 155 universities, with an objective of inculcating the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Earlier in February 2023, a national workshop for the creation of “Zila Rojgar Srijan Kendra” was conducted at NASC auditorium, ICAR complex at Pusa, New Delhi between 17 to 19 February 2023, in which 1352 representatives from all states of the country 45 Prants participated.

Constituents of SBA include Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharti, Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat, Sahkar Bharti, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bhartiya Janta Party, Vishwa Hindu parishad, Vanwasi Kalyan Ashram, Rashtriya Sewa Bharti, Vidya Bharti, Paryavaran Gatividhi, Hindu Jagran Manch, Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal, Deendayal Shodh Sansthan, Vivekananda Kendra, Saksham, Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh, and Krida Bharti.

The other organizations included Zoho Corporation, Gayatri Parivar, Kaneri Math, De Asara, Vakrangi, IID, Jagriti Yatra, Sapio Analytics, Choyal Group, CRISP India, Association of Indian Universities, and Bachpan Group.

On 21 August 2022 the digital platform of SBA, mysba.co.in was launched.  A two-day meeting attended by 80 representatives having 8 sessions was conducted at Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi between 30 September and 1 October 2022 to discuss the execution planning of SBA.

On the occasion of “Sahidi Diwas” (Martyrs Day) on 23 March 2023, SBA organized an online carnival of Yuva Sankalp Diwas to promote entrepreneurship. It was attended by youths from more than 400 districts and it was addressed by Dr, Chinmay Pandya of Gayatri Parivar, badminton coach Sri. Pulela Gopichand Ji, and motivational speaker Dr. Bhupendra Singh Rathore.

To promote Decentralization, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives, and Swadeshi, a nationwide Rojgar Kendra has been established. Till now 448 Kendra are operational. These Kendra work as a nodal point for youths to get guidance about self-employment, entrepreneurship, jobs, FPOs, startups, and other self-reliant-related activities. These Kendra’s are a bridge for youth to engage in the SBA mission.

The SBA has shared success stories of Padamshri Sri. Sridhar Vembu, largest FPO creator Sri. Vilas Shinde, goat farmer Sri. Munendra Singh, Sri. Sitaram Yadav of BTW, OYO founder Sri Ritesh Agarwal, Sri. Deepak Garg of Rivigo Logistics Company, agriculture entrepreneur Smt. Archana Meena Ji, Sr. Rohit Sharma of Chaiwalaz, Srimati. Shradha Sharma of “your story”, Smt. Smita Ghesas of Suyash Foundation, founder of media.net Sri. Divyank Turakhia, Sri. Virendra Nagpal of Sports line and younker skates private limited.

Seva Bharti has started 14801 Swavalmabn Kendra, 1234 Silai Kendra, 3210 self-help groups which benefitted lakhs of people, 678 beauty parlor training centers training 8765 persons, 345 computer training centers benefiting 5432 people, other 9876 people benefitted from different training programs.

Vanwasi Kalyan Ashram started 3511 self-help groups, 119 tailoring centers benefitting 2138 people, 14 computer centers benefitting 250 people, 65 Krishi Vikas Kendra benefitting 2363 people, 10 Sankul Kendra benefitting 1720 people, 60 other centers benefitting 3443 people, and total beneficiaries with the efforts of Vnawasi Kalyan Kendra is 50516.

Bhartiya Kisan Sangh created 285 FPOs benefitting 75000 farmers.

Sahkar Bharti benefitted 2 lakh people by providing guidance regarding credit facilities, and cooperative bank schemes for startups and new entrepreneurs. They networked with 1000 cooperatives benefitting 50000 people. They contributed to the creation of new self-help groups benefitting 15 lakh people through intervention in one lakh self-help groups.

Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad created 75 Rojgar Kendra benefitting 5000 youths, organized 112 innovation-related events through an incubation center, 5 startup conferences, 3 startup conclaves, 6 startup competitions, one national seminar, operationalized incubation center in colleges of 20 Prants benefiting 15000 students.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad has started 702 training centers benefitting 4710 people, and 292 exclusive “Matri-Shakti” i.e., women entrepreneurship-related centers benefiting 4030 women entrepreneurs.

SBA has launched many books within the last year. These are Bharat@2047 ke Panch Stambh, Swavalmban Ki Ore Badhta Bharat, Punah Banaye Bharat Mahan, 31 Safal Udhayami ki Safal kahaniya, Dots of Bharat @2047, Bharat Marching Towards Swavalamban, Employment Creation Rebuilding Great Bharat, Igniting 37 Crore Growth Engines, and few more are under publication.

SBA launched Swavalamban Geet tilted “Hum Sabkao Age Badhna Hai” composed by Padamshri(one of the highest civilian awards of India). Kailash Kher on 19 February 2023.

SBA has more than 16000 digital volunteers, 448 operational Zila Rojgar Kendra, many books published, more than 45 workshops at the Prant level, and more than 10 workshops at the Kshetra level.

 The Youth Entrepreneurship campaign of SBA has conducted programs in all 45 Prants, touching 511 districts, engaging 400 industrial units, felicitating 3938 entrepreneurs, and directly reaching nearly one lakh youths till date.

SBA is a collective effort and is driven by Swadeshi Jagran Manch. SBA believes that the Government alone cannot change the job seeker mindset of the society to induce and nudge entrepreneurship. SBA is working towards that direction and is always embracing ideas and partnerships from the society to step up the efforts.

SBA believes the media too has an important role in this journey and that every citizen of Bharat can register themselves as a volunteer on mysba.co.in portal to be part of the transformative and historical journey.

While answering the questions from the media persons, Dr Mahajan explained how SBA has been working for the development of the rural areas; creation of job opportunities in the rural areas through rural industrialisation, food processing industries, development of fisheries and other allied activities. He further explained that the special focus of SBA has also been towards development of women enterprises.”