Faridabad : The Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST)–Cisco Faridabad Cluster organised its Quarterly Get-Together Programme on July 31, 2026, bringing together around 75 participants, including government officials, bankers, senior mentors, entrepreneurs, members of the Mentoring India (MI) team, representatives from the BYST Head Office, and the organisation’s National Coordinator for Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP).
Brajesh Kumar, Lead District Manager (LDM), Faridabad, attended the programme as the Chief Guest.
The event commenced with a welcome address by senior mentor Hitendra Puneyani, who welcomed the dignitaries and participants and gave a brief overview of BYST’s activities. He highlighted the organisation’s unique mentorship-driven approach to entrepreneurship development, describing mentoring as one of BYST’s greatest strengths in nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs.
A knowledge-sharing session on the importance of mentoring was conducted by senior mentor Som Dua, who elaborated on the critical role mentoring plays in the success of BYST’s entrepreneurship programmes. His presentation proved particularly valuable for the new mentors associated with the Faridabad Cluster.
Addressing the gathering, Snehal Srivastava, Assistant General Manager (AGM), State Bank of India, SME Branch, Faridabad, explained the banking sector’s expectations regarding MSME loan proposals and provided practical guidance to entrepreneurs on preparing viable loan applications and accessing financial assistance.
Representing the BYST Mentoring India (MI) Team, Dr. Alam briefed participants about the Mentoring India initiative and the organisation’s efforts to strengthen the country’s mentoring ecosystem to support entrepreneurs and emerging businesses.
Mohammad Raza Ur Rahman, Programme Head of Bankers Club India, introduced participants to the proposed Laxmi App, which is planned to be launched in Haryana. He also expressed interest in partnering with BYST for the implementation of the application in the districts of Faridabad and Palwal.
The programme also featured inspiring success stories from several entrepreneurs associated with BYST. Participants who shared their entrepreneurial journeys included Shiva of Shiva Sunshine Auto Component, Shiva of Ecograd, Rupa Chaudhary of Street Laundry, Colonel Gopal Singh, and Anita of Maa Ambe Garments. They spoke about their experiences with BYST and how mentoring had contributed to the growth of their enterprises.
Several senior mentors, including Mohan Singh, Pankaj Ahuja, Harish Mittal, Colonel Gopal Singh, Satish Goyal, and Ranjana Sharma, also shared their experiences and emphasized the positive impact of mentorship in building successful and sustainable businesses.
Representatives from Prayas Social Services Society, Madhu Gupta and Kaul, presented the organisation’s initiatives in vocational education and skill development, highlighting opportunities for youth empowerment and employment generation.
In his address, Brajesh Kumar, Lead District Manager (LDM), Faridabad, shared his experiences and assured continued support for BYST’s entrepreneurship development initiatives in the district. He appreciated the organisation’s efforts in promoting self-employment and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem through mentoring and institutional collaboration.
The programme concluded with a summary of the day’s proceedings by Manoj Srivastava, National Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), BYST. He thanked all the dignitaries, government officials, bankers, mentors, entrepreneurs, and participants for their active involvement and valuable contributions, expressing confidence that such collaborative initiatives would continue to strengthen entrepreneurship development in the region.