“Today I renew my pledge to an entrepreneurial India … I will innovate my work, consider working for start-up companies, change my thinking from why to why not,” said a student at the inauguration of the Entrepreneurship Week-India Meet at Xavier's.

The pledge was taken by all 270 institutes in the country, which are part of this week-long programme.

Following the pledge-taking ceremony, a series of workshops, seminars and interactive sessions will be also held simulatneously in different institutes.

National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), which has brought the institutes under one umbrella, has created a platform for the future entrepreneurs of the country.

Speaking to The Indian Express, NEN Director Laura Parkin said: “The week will help create an ecosystem that will encourage students in their entrepreneurial ventures.”

Throughout the year, the interaction of the students is limited to the campus. This event will give them a chance to interact with other institutes and stalwarts from the industry as well, she added. Incidentally, leading entrepreneurs Lakshmi Mittal and Harsh Neotia have studied at St. Xavier’s where entrepreneurship is being promoted.

Parkin also pointed out that nowadays entrepreneurship is being included in the curriculum, but it cannot be learnt in a classroom or through books.

Expressing his happiness at the launch of the mega event at St. Xavier’s, Principal Father P C Mathew said it is the individuals’ urge and the situation which churn out entrepreneurs.

“The college will organise 15 events throughout the week. Following this, the participants will have to submit a report on the events,” said Professor Deepak Kumar Khaitan, who is also a practising company secretary.

Recounting the hardships he faced while starting his consultancy, Khaitan said the meet is a unique chance for students to think and innovate, to have new start-up ventures and interact with the experts.