Pathfinders Par excellence.
They have nothing of their own, except their Dreams.
A small employee with a meager salary. His education stopped abruptly at 10th class. But not the deep desire to grow and advance.
A tribal youth, who read up to eighth standard, worked in an industrial organization, started a small business with a desire to expand his business to an organization with one crore annual turnover.
A lad who ekes out a living by selling samosas, hopes to own a hotel of his own some day.
None of the above is neither the descendants of big business houses nor the graduates from the prestigious Business schools. They do not have the knowledge of presenting their ambitious plans through Power point Presentations. They don’t have property to mortgage to get a loan from the Banks for their projects.
What all they have is their Dreams.
Which organization or a financing company comes forward to advance a loan to fulfill their dreams? None.
But for one.
Yes, it’s true. A non- profitable and selfless organization with the sole objective of lending its helping hand to those who have sound imaginative business thoughts equipped with fierce will and determination to make their dreams come true. It believes that all who are educated cannot become businessmen. And all those successful businessmen need not be necessarily educated. Which is why, it will not shoot questions on those who come to its help, “Where did you study, what’s your educational qualification, how much you can invest?”
What all they ask is, ‘What are your thoughts?’. the organization is of the firm opinion that no amount of money will work without a thought.
Thought is the seed for the tree of business.
One thought…
Ice creams to be made from Soya.
Environment friendly paper plates to be made.
One thought…
Sarees to be woven from most modern and cost effective way.
One thought…
Inverters of less cost are to be made.
Many a time such thoughts from young and ambitious people lack clarity. Of course they are like raw diamonds. They need adequate polishing and cutting. A thought needs some more factors to be added to make it a Business plan. In such situations one needs guidance from experts in the field.
Yuva Shakti Trust takes the ideas of the people in the right direction.
What is Yuva Shakti ?
To know about Yuva Shakti, we have to go back two decades from now.
Prince Charles of Britain was on a tour of India during the Presidentship of R. Venkataraman. Laxmi Venkatesan, daughter of the president took part in the official function of Prince Charles. She happened to sit by the side of the prince during the function. During their conversation many topics were discussed. Prince Charles discussed in detail, how, ‘Youth Business Model’ run under the Prince of Wales Trust was functioning in making common people in to successful entrepreneurs. Laxmi Venkatesan took keen interest in the discussion. The discussion created immense interest in her and Laxmi Venkatesan dealt with it with a practical interest.
Laxmi Venkatesan, a highly educated and widely traveled woman had come to the conclusion that Business is an effective antidote for a plethora of problems faced by India after her discussions with the prince. After coming to know about the proceedings of the discussion about ‘Business Model’, J.R.D Tata, the great industrialist agreed with Laxmi Venkatesan. And, he had agreed to be the founding President of the organization to be established for the first generation of Businessmen in India.
As a result ‘Bharatiya Yuva Shakti trust’ has come into existence. A new Era has started. Barring a few employees, remaining all are volunteers. CII, Confederation Of Indian Industries has voluntarily offered space in their office to the Bharatiya Yuva Shakti trust.
Bharatiya Yuva Shakti trust – Objectives.
Those who are highly educated have many options to eke out a livelihood. Business for them is just another option. But for a commoner, He has no or little education. Job opportunities are limited. Even if a commoner manages to get a job, salary is a pittance.
In these conditions, business is the opportunity for the commoner that is capable of creating a turn in his life. As it was said earlier, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti trust, and its founders firmly thought, business is the only solution to many a social problems. Woman empowerment, abolishing poverty, creation of opportunities for advancement in life, uplifting of the downtrodden are some of the problems that can be tackled effectively by business.
How Bharatiya Yuva Shakti trust works.
Bharatiya Yuva Shakti trust, BYST in short, acts as a mentor to those who are young between 18 and 35 years who are either inadequately employed or unemployed. BYST looks in to such members if they have sound imaginative business ideas clubbed with fierce determination and dedication to win.
An young man but poor has a brilliant idea of making environment friendly paper plates, BYST provides information on the amount of investment, information pertaining to any such industries in the market. If there are already such industries, how they are faring. Who are the possible competitors for such industries, So on and so forth.
BYST helps in Market study. Additionally, it provides full report on maintaining accounts, awareness on taxation, maintenance of staff etc. Youth may have a sparkling business idea, but they may not be having the required Marketing knowledge and other vital information necessary for the success of the business. It’s here BYST lends its support. No charges. No consultation fees. Not even initial mandatory registration fees.
BYST teaches how to convert thoughts in to actions.
Would BYST advances loans for the initial investment ?
No. BYST enjoys the trust and confidence of the Market leaders like Tatas, Bajajs, Godrejs to name a few because of its shining track record, which is full of voluntary and non- profitable activities. Its 25000 plus beneficiaries who have carved a niche of their own in the business world. Its not all, as a subsidiary organization of the most prestigious organization CII, Confederation of Indian Industry, in which who is who of Business world are the members, BYST has earned the tag as the most authentic voluntary organization with the sole motive of SERVICE.
BYST’s approval means authenticity.
A mere stamp ‘Approved’ by the BYST indicates that everything is genuine and spotlessly authentic. BYST will not stop here. It recommends those candidates about whom it has full confidence recommends for a loan under the scheme, “credit guarantee fund for Micro and small enterprises” to the concerned Bank. This loan doesn't need a guarantee. The maximum amount of Rs. 50 lakhs can be utilized for starting a new business or to even for expanding the existing business. If enough proof is there, for the candidate’s and project’s potential, the loan will be available up to Rs. One crore. For this, BYST has its own ‘Private equity growth fund’ at its disposal.
BYST is extending its voluntary services in the capacity of authorized representative of Assam government.
When BYST takes charge?
Generally BYST works on a ‘Four way Strategy. They are Thought, Plan, investment and the starting of the business. The above 4 ways work one after another without hassles. Production too starts. Then the efforts to make the presence of the business starts. This is the stage considered to be critical. 60 percent of the people fail. And another 20 percent over a time fumble and fall flat. Reason is lack of a right strategy. It’s only who are well experienced and seasoned can create an effective strategy and can implement the strategy in its right perspective. Here is where BYST takes the charge.
Guru- Shishya relationship.
Laxmi Venkatesan says BYST sticks to the age old Guru- Shishya relationship. Mere advising is different from taking the person in to one’s fold and supervising every move and activity of the Shishya like a mother. Akin to this BYST, stands by the side of the individual from the ‘Thought’ stage to until the venture becomes a success. It takes the role of a Mentor.
BYST introduces Mentors.
In this direction, BYST introduces experts in marketing strategies in the form of Mentors. All the Mentors are the experts in creating marketing strategies. They are the famed consultants. For a commoner, it is not possible even to talk with such experts. Such experts are made available to the individual who personally guide and encourage in every aspect of the strategic activity.
The most important and unique feature is, all this are provided without fees or charges.
Social responsibility is the hall mark of BYST.
All those who are involved in the activities of BYST are the persons who are willingly offering their precious knowledge and expertise without any remuneration. Another heartening feature is BYST and its selfless people bear their own expenditure while going to check the progress made by the individuals. They follow stringent measures in the selection of Mentors.
Generally one Mentor is assigned to one individual on a one-to-one basis. The Mentorship is primarily arranged for a period of two years. But it’s not a hard and fast rule. Mentorship period can be extended depending on the situation. During the period of Mentorship, the disadvantaged individual will be receiving personalized guidance. The Mentor will keep a watchful eye on the progress of the project. The unexpected pitfalls are taken care of.
Very often than not, young and prospective entrepreneurs are subjected to severe strain and stress due to severe competition. There is a possibility of their crumbling. Hopelessness will lead to severe disappointments. At this juncture Mentor stands in good stead. They suggest various ways to alleviate the mental tension in the would be entrepreneurs.
It’s not all. The concerned individual will be getting an exposure to the different kinds of Training programmes held from time to time. Besides this, a competitive atmosphere is created all along. The winners will be honored with prestigious awards like J.R.D Tata’s young Entrepreneur.
Emulated by more than 40 countries.
The Guru- Shishya tradition started by BYST has attracted many countries in the world. Today 40 countries of the world are following the tradition to encourage exemplary Entrepreneurship in the youth. Presently in India there are 3000 Mentors in India. All of them came forward to lend their helping hand to the needy young entrepreneurs with a motive of selflessness.
BYST changed their lives.
Here are some real life success stories which speak volumes about the success of BYST. For the reasons of privacy, original names were changed.
Muhammad, a Samosa seller in the streets of Chennai once, is now the proud owner of a successful owner of food chain. And his food items are being exported to America, Canada, Singapore among many countries. Muhammad owes his success to the tireless, selfless guidance of his Mentor. His Mentor taught Muhammad the most vital aspects of financial discipline in the early days of Muhammad’s business. Muhammad today helps and provides livelihood to those unfortunate children who were released from the clutches of bonded labor.
Nirmala, hailed from a rural area. She was shaped in to woman entrepreneur by her Mentor who had a strong hold on the garment industry. The Mentor was the principal of the Apparel training institute. She combined all her knowledge and experience to shape Nirmala.
A woman who was making her livelihood by selling simple food stuff in the streets of Hyderabad was trained by a Mentor, whose lessons changed the life of the woman. She has become an expert packer under the able guidance of her Mentor. And like her early days she stopped selling her food stuff in the streets. Instead, she started selling at the petrol Bunks. Today that woman’s annual turnover touched one crore rupee mark.
Two youths from a remote place of Andhra Pradesh wanted to start a business. One was a Diploma holder who worked in an office that paid pittance. The other worked as an office boy. They together tried for a bank loan but to of no avail. The vexed duo, on somebody’s suggestion approached BYST. Realizing the worth of the suggestion and spark in the duo, BYST sanctioned a loan to enable them to start a Thermocol packing unit. Buoyed by the opportunity, the duo went ahead. In a span of eight years, their unit crossed a turnover of 60 lakhs.
Another youth from Pune who was working in a Publication house for a small pay is yet another beneficiary of BYST. His idea of producing books for a small cost was well received by the trust. Then the things started happening in quick succession. The venture was started with a loan of 10 lakh rupees and from then the publication house started making giant leaps. He give away a portion of the books to the children of slums free of cost.
A tribal youth with the help of BYST, in no time reached a turnover of one crore rupees. And the wonder of wonders is the tribal youth had gone all the way to London, to receive.’ Youth Business International Award.’
Mentor Mohandas Kuntekar an erstwhile highly placed employee of Bambino realized the spark in the suggestion of Bhanu Murthy that a nutritious delicious ice creams can be made from Soya milk. Mohandas guided Bhanu Murthy. And the rest is history. Bhanu Murthy has emerged as the proud winner of the coveted title,’Eco-friendly Green Ambassador.’
Its not one or two, 75000 young entrepreneurs took the advantage of BYST in a span of 2 decades. 200 people utilized the loans. They all together created wealth worth 500 crores. Provided employment directly or indirectly to 25000 people. The nondescript employees of yesterday are the employment creators of today.
Investing on youth is investing on the country’s future.
The grateful youth.
The success that has come, made the youth to pay back to the nation that helped them in giving recognition. All the beneficiaries of BYST came from the lowermost strata of the society. A successful young man from Maharashtra who is running a hotel, has not forgotten the penury he had experienced and which deprived him of education. The grateful young man built an English medium school in his village.
200 Millionaires speaks for itself.
The fact that there are already 200 millionaires made by the BYST’s selfless services speaks volumes of its success. It is very confident that its noble intention of the potentials in the youth and providing them all they need to shape themselves in to successful entrepreneurs will go on. The day when Service oriented Institutions like BYST come up, India will certainly make a mark in the international community
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