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Tribal Youth Launches Eco-Friendly Bamboo Startup with Gujarat Govt Support

A young tribal entrepreneur from Navsari, Gujarat, has successfully established a bamboo-product manufacturing startup named 'House of Shitij'. Founded by Yogesh Yadav with partners Om and Preya, the venture produces over 120 natural and durable items as sustainable alternatives to plastic and ceramics. The startup received crucial financial backing and support through the Gujarat government's Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP). Yadav's journey, beginning with training at Navsari Agricultural University, is seen as aligning with national goals of self-reliance and economic development.

Key Points: Gujarat Tribal Youth's Bamboo Startup Backed by SSIP Scheme

  • Tribal youth launches bamboo startup
  • Makes 120+ eco-friendly products
  • Supported by Gujarat's SSIP scheme
  • Aims to reduce plastic and ceramic use
2 min read

Gujarat: Tribal Youth launches bamboo startup with support from SSIP scheme

Yogesh Yadav launches 'House of Shitij', a bamboo-product startup with 120+ eco-friendly items, supported by Gujarat's Student Startup and Innovation Policy.

"In the third year, there was a course named ELP, in which we worked extensively on bamboo. And through that work, I thought of proceeding further. - Yogesh Yadav"

Navsari, Feb 25

A young tribal entrepreneur from Navsari in Gujarat has established a successful bamboo‑product enterprise with support from the Gujarat government's Student Startup and Innovation Policy.​

The venture, which manufactures more than 120 items from bamboo, reflects a growing trend of student‑led innovation in rural parts of the state.​

Yogesh Yadav, who grew up in a village, founded the startup, named 'House of Shitij', after completing training in bamboo work during a third‑year course at the College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University.​

With his partners, Om and Preya, he turned his interest in bamboo into a business focused on producing natural, durable, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to plastic and ceramic products.​

"In the third year, there was a course named ELP, in which we worked extensively on bamboo. And through that work, I thought of proceeding further," Yadav said, explaining the genesis of his enterprise.​

He added that the startup's products were intended to reduce reliance on plastics and ceramics in households.​

Yadav also said that a key objective of the enterprise was to promote products made by the tribal community through eco‑friendly means.​

The venture received financial backing under the SSIP scheme, a state government initiative designed to encourage student entrepreneurship by offering funding, mentorship and access to incubation resources.​

SSIP 2.0, launched in January 2022 and running until March 2027, seeks to foster a culture of innovation from the school level through higher education by providing grants for proof-of-concept and prototype development, as well as support for intellectual property registration and industry linkages.​

The initiative has been credited with helping students turn ideas into viable enterprises and has supported thousands of student startups and innovations across the state.​

Observers say the rise of entrepreneurs such as Yadav aligns with national goals of self‑reliance and economic development.​

His experience has been cited as an example of how government schemes can enable young innovators to contribute to broader development objectives, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a self-reliant India.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Aman W
Fantastic initiative. This is exactly what 'Vocal for Local' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' should look like on the ground. Supporting tribal artisans and promoting eco-friendly alternatives to plastic is a win-win. Hope this startup gets the market reach it deserves.
R
Rahul R
Great to read, but I hope the support doesn't end with just initial funding. The real challenge for such startups is scaling up, managing supply chains, and competing with cheap plastic goods. The government needs to ensure continuous mentorship and market access.
S
Sarah B
As someone who tries to live sustainably, I would love to buy these bamboo products! Is there an online store? We need more such stories of innovation coming from our agricultural universities. Combining traditional knowledge with modern entrepreneurship is the future.
K
Karthik V
Respect! Coming from a village background and building a startup with 120 products is no small feat. Gujarat's SSIP scheme seems to be doing good work. Other states should replicate this model to tap into the huge potential of rural youth.
N
Nisha Z
My only concern is the long-term durability and pricing compared to mass-produced items. I appreciate the sentiment, but for such businesses to truly replace plastic, the products need to be affordable for the average middle-class family. Hope they can achieve that.

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