Delhi govt plans incubation infra boost for entrepreneurs, startups: Minister Sirsa

IANS May 17, 2025 335 views

Delhi's Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced a significant boost to the city's startup ecosystem through new incubation centres. The initiative, funded by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, will establish two centres at World Class Skill Centres in Jhandewalan and Wazirpur. These centres aim to support micro food processing entrepreneurs and align with the national vision of 'Vocal for Local' and 'Viksit Bharat'. The project demonstrates Delhi's commitment to creating a robust entrepreneurial infrastructure that supports innovation and skill development.

"Delhi's commitment to empowering micro food entrepreneurs is unwavering" - Manjinder Singh Sirsa
New Delhi, May 17: Delhi Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday announced the expansion of incubation infrastructure under Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme to build a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Key Points

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Two incubation centres established at World Class Skill Centres

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Total project cost of Rs 4.5 crore for entrepreneurship infrastructure

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PMFME scheme supports micro food processing enterprises

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Labs aim to bridge ideation and execution for startups

Aiming to catalyse the city's startup ecosystem, Minister Sirsa announced that two incubation centres are being established at the World Class Skill Centres (WCSC) in Jhandewalan and Wazirpur through Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU).

The initiative aims to strengthen the Delhi government's efforts to build a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem aligned with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Vocal for Local'.

The skill centres will be funded by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, he said.

The total project cost of this initiative stands at Rs 4.5 crore. "A total of Rs 45 lakh has already been released for the installation of bakery line equipment," he said.

"Delhi's commitment to empowering micro food entrepreneurs is unwavering. Through world-class incubation support and modern infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for a new era of self-reliant, skilled, and market-ready micro enterprises," he said.

"Under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi is transforming into an engine of inclusive growth," he said.

In a parallel initiative, the Delhi government - under a Rs 3.06 crore CSR sanction from Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) - is also establishing two cutting-edge Internet of Things labs at East and Main Campus of IP University and one Fabrication Lab at Main Campus of the Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT).

"These centres are aimed at supporting product development, testing, and skill-building for startups, students, and faculty. These labs are now ready to facilitate startups in Delhi," said Minister Sirsa.

"Our goal is to make Delhi the first choice for innovators, MSMEs, and skilled youth looking to build future-ready enterprises. These labs will bridge the gap between ideation and execution for startups and local entrepreneurs," he added.

The PMFME scheme, launched in June 2020 by PM Modi with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore and extended to FY 2025-26, focuses on formalising the unorganised micro food processing sector by offering credit-linked subsidies, shared infrastructure, and One District One Product-based support.

Delhi's strategic implementation of this central scheme showcases the city's proactive alignment with national development priorities while addressing local enterprise needs, said Minister Sirsa.

Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
Great initiative! Delhi needs more such incubation centers to compete with Bengaluru and Hyderabad's startup ecosystems. The focus on food processing is smart - we have so much traditional knowledge that can be commercialized. Hope they also provide marketing support to these startups. 👍
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Priya M.
While the plan sounds good, I hope they ensure proper utilization of funds. Last year's audit showed many skill centers were underutilized. Also, why only Jhandewalan and Wazirpur? Shouldn't there be centers in outer Delhi areas too where unemployment is higher?
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Amit S.
The IoT labs at IP University are a game-changer! As an engineering graduate, I know how difficult it is to get access to good prototyping facilities. If implemented well, this could really boost hardware startups in Delhi. Make in India needs such infrastructure at grassroots level.
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Neha T.
Good to see focus on food processing - we waste so much agricultural produce due to lack of processing units. But ₹4.5 crore seems very less for two centers? Hope they have proper business continuity plans beyond initial setup. Sustainability matters more than announcements.
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Vikram J.
As someone who runs a small food business, I appreciate this move! Getting FSSAI certification and modern equipment is costly for micro-entrepreneurs. If these centers can provide shared infrastructure at reasonable rates, it will be a big help. Hope they keep the bureaucratic hurdles minimal.
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Sunita R.
The 'Vocal for Local' approach is excellent, but I hope they don't forget about women entrepreneurs. Most home-based food businesses are run by women - will there be special provisions for them? Also, timing of these centers should accommodate homemakers who can only visit in evenings/weekends.

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Tags:
Delhi Startups Manjinder Singh Sirsa PMFME Scheme Entrepreneurship Skill Development Innovation Labs