Modi Meets J&K’s Startup Stars: From PhD to Profit

SRINAGAR, June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with a group of young entrepreneurs from Jammu and Kashmir during his two-day visit to the region, highlighting the burgeoning startup ecosystem in the Union Territory.
The interaction, which took place at SKICC in Srinagar on Thursday, featured a diverse array of startups, many led by women entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister shared highlights of the meeting on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

One notable interaction was with a woman entrepreneur whose year-old startup, focusing on livestock feed and supplements, has already produced 500 tonnes of feed and generated revenue of Rs 1 crore. When asked about balancing her Ph.D. studies with her business, she expressed her commitment to pursuing both, inspired by the Prime Minister’s ethos.
Another entrepreneur, Sheela Imran Bandh, a microbiologist from Pulwama, showcased how her handicraft business employs 20 women artisans from her village, emphasizing local skill utilization.
The interaction also featured an e-commerce food startup owner who playfully remarked, “We also give a guarantee like ‘Modi ki guarantee’ for our products,” referring to their money-back guarantee policy.
A startup in the lavender industry reported its association with 2,500 farmers, crediting Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program for inspiring their venture. The Prime Minister also showed interest in J&K’s first public e-bike sharing startup, inquiring about its operations and user demographics.
The event underscored the growing entrepreneurial spirit in Jammu and Kashmir, with startups spanning sectors from agriculture and handicrafts to tourism and technology. Prime Minister Modi’s engagement with these young innovators highlights the government’s focus on fostering economic growth and employment opportunities in the region through entrepreneurship.
The Prime Minister concluded the interaction by wishing all the startups well, expressing visible satisfaction with the progress and innovation demonstrated by the young entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir.