Sikkim name among G20 Indians - Dewakar bound for moscow

Dewakar Basnet

Nirmal Mangar, TT, Gangtok: Among 25 Indians who will represent the country at a G20 summit of young entrepreneurs is a name from Sikkim.

Thirty-year-old Dewakar Basnet will be part of the Indian team in Moscow from June 15-17.

The G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA) is a global network of young entrepreneurs and the organisations that support them. It was established to convene each year in advance of the G20 Summit, with the aim of championing the importance of young entrepreneurs to the G20 member nations and to share examples and practices, says the G20 YEA website.

The alliance was created at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Summit, Toronto, Canada, 2010.

Dewakar will be the first person from Sikkim to represent India at the summit.

The summit is hosted by the Center For Entrepreneurship (CFE), an entrepreneurship development organisation based in Moscow that focuses on young entrepreneurs as the leading force for job creation, innovation, economic and sustainable growth, and competitiveness.

Dewakar, who hails from Pakyong in East Sikkim, is a chief learning officer of 24 Hours Inspires, a company founded by him which works on the skill and personality developments of school students.

Dewakar, who studied journalism in Bangalore, started his company in 2008-09 as a leadership development and personality enhancement firm.

Registered in Bangalore, the company conducts leadership development and personality enhancement programmes for schools, colleges and corporates.

It has a children’s learning division called Creative Craft which conducts summer and winter camps.

It has a quizzing section called QYOU! which focuses on quiz shows in schools, colleges and corporate firms.

Dewakar has been a quizmaster and has conducted more than 100 shows till date.

Dewakar would be representing the summit as part of Young India, an integral part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

“This is a dream come true. I never thought in my wildest dream that I would be getting an opportunity to represent my state and the country in such a big platform,” said Dewakar, who would be delivering a talk on inclusive competition among students at the summit.

“It is a matter of great pride for our family. He would be the first from the family to go abroad,” said father T.P. Basnet, a retired contractor.

Dewakar was recently conferred with an award by the Sikkim government for his contribution in the field of education.

“CII does not have its registered office in Sikkim so Dewakar will be going from Kolkata. At the G20 YEA Summit, the delegates will focus on solutions to address critical issues facing all G20 countries, including ways governments, academia, NGOs and business communities can work together to provide aspiring young entrepreneurs with foundational support to ensure their success,” said the North Bengal zonal office head of CII, Laxmi Limbu.

She said the selection was made after thorough scrutiny and several rounds of interviews and interactions.