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An entrepreneur in every home in Kerala

by John K Paul

Every developed and developing economy around the world is fuelled by pursuits and successes of small and medium scale entrepreneurs. Countries which have a burgeoning environment for entrepreneurship development are able to counter and overcome the vicious assaults of economic recessions and fiscal crises.

In Kerala, we have traditionally not been forthcoming to options of self-employment or taking the plunge to start our own businesses. This also stems from the societal philosophy which places a very high premium on entrepreneurial failure. A failed entrepreneur is a pariah of sorts.  There is a vicarious pleasure we take to admonish them calling them ‘greedy and avaricious’ , as if they did something fundamentally wrong by seeking career avenues in an entrepreneurial venture and not in the safe confines of a government cubicle , a bean counter at a bank or the career ladder of the PSU.

What Kerala needs is entrepreneurs or as the CM Mr Oommen Chandy states – Job creators more than job Seekers! The TiE Kerala vision of ‘ An entrepreneur in every home in Kerala’  stems from this deep conviction that we have to promote entrepreneurship in Kerala.Entrepreneurship is the only way to involve even rural youngsters in the development of their own surroundings hence making them more responsible in the process. It will make our society truly inclusive. I have heard critical statements like, with nuclear families which have one child, isn’t it ludicrous to imagine that we need only entrepreneurs in our society?

Our vision is a roadmap which tries to instil a core direction rather than a destination. We are guided by this overarching vision in whatever we try to do under the aegis of TiE. The very successful two TiEcons and the increasingly popular monthly meetings of TiE are testimony of the increasing interest in avenues of entrepreneurs. In the context of sectors, one must also understand that entrepreneurship is not just about IT. Every sector has varied opportunities and our focus has been to promote all sectors. The continued state government initiatives like the State Planning Board mandate to encourage self-employment and the exhilarating success of the YES event in the last month are clear evidence of the same. A TiEcon also sets a platform for a mass contact opportunity for the Chief Minister and the industries Minister to interact with entrepreneurs.

The youth of today think differently from the generations before. Social media and exponentially efficient connectivity, aligns their views to the global youth. They are restless, keen to take risks and also rewrite their own careers as often as they deem fit. They are independent in their thinking and do not always have the pressure from parents to follow the trodden path. This is increasing true for the parents of this generation. They have the conviction to trust their children to do the right thing and the courage to encourage them to follow their dreams.

We are on this enchanting trip of transforming Kerala. We will change it for the better – a step at a time!