KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
When Jatinder Sharma left his government job to start a business venture of his own, he had no idea that his efforts would take him towards social entrepreneurship.
And now he is a proud owner of well-established, affiliated institute of computer science and technology working for poor and downtrodden sections of the society.
The 34-year-old computer engineer completed his diploma in computers and computer applications way back in 2004, started few tuition centres in Jammu and remained busy for two years.
In 2006, he got a job in Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) as computer hardware engineer and worked there till 2010.
“Since colleges days I had decided to have a business venture of my own. So I gained experience in my relevant field to make things easier for myself. In 2010, I resigned from the job and made up my mind to set up a business venture,” says Jatinder.
Jatinder approached Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) and was registered for training and finance under Youth Start Up Loan Scheme (YSLS) in the year 2012.
Though a loan amount of Rs 8 lakh was sanctioned in favour of Jatinder, he opted to avail only four lakh rupees to start Amargyan Institute of Computer Science and Technology at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.
Jatinder worked hard to get affiliation of his institute for Vocational Training Programmes (VTPs) from Directorate of Technical Education, Jammu; Directorate General of Employment and Training (DGET), Ministry of Labour and Employment, GoI in 2013.
Later in 2013, Amargyan Institute of Computer Science and Technology was also declared as DOEACC facilitation centre for CCC and BCC.
In 2015, the institute got permission from National Skill Development Council (NSDC) for imparting Information Technology (IT) courses along with stipend to the students.
Amargyan also imparts training under programmes of Sector Skill Council (SSC).
Under VTPs, free IT training is provided to poor children. “We have received a contract from Jammu Urban Development Agency (JUDA) under Step-up scheme for urban poor. Under NSDC, we provide IT training and stipend to trainees,” says Jatinder.
Amargyan institute also imparts training for making soft toys under VTPs and organizes melas to help them earn livelihood by selling their products.
It took Jatinder three years of continuous hard work to earn the trust of both people and the government.
I always wanted to be a businessman but had never thought of being a social entrepreneur, says Jatinder who has also employed 10 people in his institute.
Jatinder and his team has now shifted its focus on a locality of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes near Jammu airport to help them earn decent living.
“We are now more or less a social entrepreneurship development institute wherein we work for downtrodden sections of the society. In this phase our focus will be on SC and ST women of this Jammu locality,” Sharma says.
Amargyan Institute of Computer Science and Technology has annual sales turnover of Rs 30 lakh with net profit of Rs 5 lakh and has trained over 1000 candidates.
Jatinder has fixed a net turnover of Rs 40 lakh by end of 2016-2017 financial year.
(This success story was done by J&K EDI and later issued to press.)
