A young tribal entrepreneur in Navsari, Gujarat, has built a thriving bamboo-product business with support from the state’s Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP). Yogesh Yadav, hailing from a village, established ‘House of Shitij’ after training in bamboo work at the College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University. Together with partners Om and Preya, he focuses on creating eco-friendly alternatives to plastic and ceramic items, producing over 120 bamboo products.
Yadav emphasized that the startup aims to reduce the use of plastics and ceramics in households. The venture, backed by the SSIP scheme, aims to promote tribal community-made products through sustainable practices. The SSIP 2.0 initiative, operational from January 2022 to March 2027, supports student entrepreneurship by providing funding, mentorship, and incubation resources to foster innovation from school to higher education levels.
The SSIP initiative has been instrumental in helping students like Yadav transform ideas into successful businesses, aligning with national objectives of self-reliance and economic growth. Yadav’s journey exemplifies how government programs can empower young innovators to contribute to broader development goals, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India.
