PANJIM: The state has been looking at various methods to encourage the youth to establish new businesses. This, it is hoped, will help reduce the number of young people who want to join the government services. Various institutions like the Agnel Ashram conduct programs to mentor young entrepreneurs. The large incidence of young men compared to young women resulted in the CII launching the Indian women Network which set up in the state very recently.
Parvish Kamat, chairperson, Indian Women Network Goa Chapter felt it was important for women from the corporate and business arena to come together and network. The group she said had approached the Goa Institute of Management for its help because as she put it “They have students who would be interested in gaining experience in the corporate world. They can devise marketing strategies for these new start ups.”
The network she said looked to help young professionals taking their first steps into the world of business; Secondly, those already in business but were now looking for guidance in business management; thirdly those who were established and now wanted to develop it further and then those who had taken a break from corporate life due to childbirth or some other personal reason and now wanted to get back to work.
The group in Goa, since its launch, signed up 15 members and the fees charged depended on the turnover of the company. Mrs Kamat said there was a target for Goa with regards to encouraging young women to set up a business and she expressed confidence that they would be able to surpass the numbers demanded.
As a professional in the business of communication, Mrs Kamat felt this networking platform was important because many working women wanted to know how to enrich and pursue higher education, knowledge, skills and opportunities.
Women, she said understood the need to and benefits of networking. This network would help women overcome career related fears – through continuous learning, sharing and mentoring to help become better professionals and achievers in their respective fields of expertise. If a young woman has an interesting idea, Parvish said they would network and ensure that an angel investor is identified or help with the financial institution is provided.
Mrs Kamat felt that in a state like Goa where it was generally felt that it was important to snag a job in the government sector to avoid the trial and tribulations of the private sector these initiatives were very important. The network she said could cater to final year graduation students, junior level, middle management and senior management professionals, women entrepreneurs either through an individual or organizational membership structure.
Concerned residents of Goa unhappy at the poor state of the economy will hope that such initiatives result in young women starting businesses of their own however small.
If a young woman has an interesting idea, we will network and ensure that an angel investor is identified or help with the financial institution is provided
Parvish Kamat
