Under the Ministry’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge.’ This comes after the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ceremonial launch of AMRUT 2.0 on October 1, 2021, stakeholder discussions on October 5, 2021, in Lucknow (during MoHUA’s Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav festivities), and Cabinet approval of the Mission on October 12, 2021.
The Technology Sub-mission to engage startups as ‘Technology Partners’ has been approved by Cabinet under AMRUT 2.0, in keeping with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. The Mission’s goal is to help startups in the water/used-water sector thrive via innovation and design, resulting in long-term economic growth and job creation. The Ministry will select 100 start-ups to get Rs.20 lakhs in cash and mentorship as part of this project.
India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave
Today at India Habitat Centre, MoHUA hosted the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave,’ a first-of-its-kind networking platform for entrepreneurs, young innovators, industry partners, incubators, and states/cities. Union Minister HUA launched a startup challenge on the MyGov platform at the conference.
Shri Puri, who spoke at the event, stressed the critical role played by startups and assured them of the government’s full and active support. He claims that startups are the flavor of the season, citing the fact that the number of unicorns in the country has increased by leaps and bounds. The success of the government’s plans, according to the Minister, is dependent in large part on the involvement and contribution of stakeholders and others in the ecosystem.
Stakeholder responses in the water sector are critical for formulating government programs because they understand the true need. AMRUT 2.0, according to Shri Puri, is a transformative and unique scheme with a budget of over Rs 2.77 lakh crore. According to him, the program will safeguard the country’s water security, lower transportation costs, reduce groundwater contamination, and boost water usage capacity. Startups, he said, will have to play a significant role in the Mission’s success by bringing in fresh ideas, technology, and unique delivery mechanisms, among other things.
Shri Kaushal Kishore, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, delivered a video message during the event. Shri Kishore believes that allowing entrepreneurs to join the Technology Sub-Mission as partners is a promising move that will assist the country to overcome its urban water concerns.
Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, MoHUA, stated that water management awareness is critical for a healthy society. He went on to say that our country’s urban water management concerns are immense and that everyone needs improved technologies to meet them. He stated that start-ups must develop a novel technology that will aid in the better management of urban water. He stated that Startups will have more visibility since the government will publish a list of Startups and their proven technology on its portal, which users will be able to access.
The Conclave was attended by Smt. D. Thara, Additional Secretary, and Mission Director, AMRUT, MoHUA, officials from several state governments, and other senior MoHUA officials. Several water-related startups from across the country made presentations with unique concepts and cutting-edge technology. The Minister and other officials also visited the Water Sector Exhibition, which was hosted by various water management players.