IMPHAL, December 15: Entrepreneurship is one of the best ways to resolve the problems faced by the people of Manipur, said C Balagopal, retired administrator and author during the `Incubating New Ventures in Manipur` programme held at JCRE Skill Solutions, Thangmeiband here today.
Balagopal, told IFP during an informal chat, he is a former IAS officer once posted in Manipur, but decided early in his career to leave the civil services compelled by an unforeseen family circumstance, and left for home in Kerala. There, he decided to try his hands at entrepreneurship.
His proposal for an industrial unit to manufacture state-of-art sterilised plastic blood packers for blood banks, was approved for a joint venture with a Japanese concern by the government of the day, and after initial struggle, the company broke even and soared.
Today, the company employs over a thousand workers and exports its products to over 50 countries, he said.
`People thought I was doubly mad, first for leaving the IAS and then for wanting to start a manufacturing unit in Kerala.` Balagopal told IFP.
`Kerala till recently was very much like Manipur. It is a literate society, but practically everybody was on a job hunt and few ever even considered entrepreneurship,` he said, adding `Like Manipur, the state too possesses tremendous energy which often manifests in sporting excellence`.
`It is this energy within which must serve as the fuel for entrepreneurship,` he explained with his characteristic spontaneous overflow of optimism.
Balagopal, who is today a globe trotter by call of duty, often gave talks on his career, and therefore ended up talking about Manipur where he began his career as an administrator. He has also written a book on the subject `On a Clear Day You Can See India` published by Harper Collins, and this book too has plenty on Manipur.
One of the consistent questions posed by some in the audience to him during these talks is: `You have done so much in life. You have also spoken so much about the Northeast and Manipur, but is this all? Are you also going to do something and make change happen?`
This query haunted him in his quiet moments, and eventually made him and his wife make this trip to Manipur after three long decades. `Imphal has changed so much. I can only recognize the Kangla and the Raj Bhavan, he said in half jest.`
Balagopal now wants to let young entrepreneurs in Manipur know nothing is impossible, and for this he wants to start an entrepreneurship incubator, taking the cue from the American venture market. He says there are several such in Kerala today, and as a result entrepreneurship is growing in the state once known for migrating educated job seekers.
Young potential entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, but with little or no means to give their ideas a tangible shape, will be encouraged to apply to the planned incubator, bring their projects where the business models will be further discussed, dissected and improved. If finally approved, his company will provide the knowhow, necessary networking and even a small seed capital to these start-up enterprises.
`These enterprises can be in just about any field. Cycle operated local courier services, organic farming, bio manure, food processing`¦` Bala said. If any of these start ups become successful, his company can then have a small stake in them so that the association remains, he said. If luck does not favour and any of the enterprises fails, the small loans forwarded will be written off, he added.
In today`™s press conference, Balagopal said that the general concept of education to most people is just a matter of acquiring a degree which will qualify them for a government job. But increasingly people are beginning to realise that education can open other windows and visions, and the will to venture out into various other fields towards economic sustenance, he added.
He also said that the youth should stop chasing government jobs only. Half of the problem is solved if the young people decide to begin something new on their own, he maintained.
In the next 20 years, Manipur will become one of the crossroads for the South East Asian countries, so the people of the State should be prepared and not wait for things to happen, he noted.
Terming Manipur a `microcosm of India`™, Balagopal said that one must be willing to forget differences and work together for the betterment of tomorrow.
During the interaction, Balagopal also released his book entitled, `On a Clear Day You Can See India`. He said that the book is anecdotal and has plenty about his experiences in Manipur, his friend circle and also about the people of Manipur.
He said every rupee from the royalty earned from the book will go into the `incubating venture`™ for the aspirant entrepreneurs, he added.
Balagopal also shared a brief account about himself stating that he studied economics at Loyala College, University of Madras, and enrolled for PhD programme (unfinished) at the University of Kerala.
He joined IAS in 1977 and worked in Manipur and Kerala before resigning in1983 to set up a pioneering venture to make cutting edge medical products. The enterprise today employs 1,100 people and ships products to more than 50 countries, said Balagopal.
The function was also attended by Niranjan director, JCRE Skill Solution and many local entrepreneurs.