This article stresses on the need for an e-application like Technical and Entrepreneurial Research Information System (TERIS), which enables interaction among academia, industry and various agencies related to researchers for sustainable entrepreneurship development. The functional details of the model are also discussed.
The word entrepreneur is French and literally means "between-taker" or "go-between". Entrepreneurship is the process of creating something new with value by devoting the necessary time and effort, assuming the accompanying financial, psychological and social risks, and receiving the resulting rewards of monetary and personal satisfaction and independence.
Rajasthan is the largest State (342,214 sq km) of India, which has a very large arid zone (56%). With 76% of its population in rural areas, the state literacy rate of 38.8% is among the lowest in the country. 27.4% of the people in Rajasthan are below poverty line (Manorama, 2003).
Most of the state's economy is based on agriculture and traditional industrial setup. Industries dependent on natural resources like cotton processing, textiles, handloom, limestone, marble, gypsum exist, in addition to some manufacturing units like cement, steel re-rolling, oil mills, chemicals, etc., along with some ancillary units. The state has only 3.2% of total registered factories in India, giving employment to only 3% of the total workforce. Scores of degree holders are unemployed due to limited opportunities. The rural youth is migrating towards cities in large numbers.
The state is in a very poor condition as far as the development of service and technology- based industry is concerned. Also, there is little interest among the young people for establishing some business or production unit of their own. The prime reason is the lack of exposure to entrepreneurial avenues and opportunities, and thus a rigid mindset. |
