PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
President Droupadi Murmu awarded project director of the Devbhoomi Udyamita Yojana (DUY) and professor at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, Amit Kumar Dwivedi, with the National Award to Teachers (NAT) 2025 in New Delhi on Friday. The principal of Government Primary School (GPS) Churyani in Champawat, Manjubala, received the National Teacher Award 2025 on Friday
Dwivedi has played an important role in promoting an entrepreneurial mindset and culture among youths across Uttarakhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Goa and Ladakh. Under his leadership, the DUV has become a landmark initiative of the Uttarakhand Higher Education department, nurturing thousands of student entrepreneurs and establishing a vibrant startup ecosystem in the State.
Dwivedi dedicated the award to all students, colleagues and institutions who have been part of this journey of shaping entrepreneurial youth. He expressed his gratitude to the Higher Education department, State government and EDII for their support.
Director general of EDII, Sunil Shukla added, “This recognition for Dwivedi is not only a personal milestone but also a national acknowledgment of the innovation happening in entrepreneurship education. His dedication to fostering an entrepreneurial culture among youth is shaping India’s future as a self-reliant nation and we at EDII take immense pride in his achievement.”
Notably, the DUY has made strides in Uttarakhand by fostering a strong culture of student entrepreneurship. To date, 1,037 student enterprises have been established, with 746 led by women and 291 by men. These enterprises include 604 in the manufacturing sector, 377 in services and 56 in trading. Officials said that 329 of these enterprises are generating revenue and creating employment opportunities for 1,847 people, thereby helping to reduce migration from the State.
Regarding Manjubala, officials said that she has implemented innovative ideas aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to ensure the holistic development of her students.
She has focused on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy through engaging, TLM-based activities and has developed a continuous assessment system to provide remedial support, resulting in all students achieving proficiency. Additionally, to foster a safe school environment, she has utilised platforms like Bal Sabha and organised awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene and child marriage to empower girls. These efforts have earned her numerous accolades, including the Anmol Ratna Award, Teacher of the Year 2020 by the State HRD, Best Social Worker and the title of Iron Lady from a national-level human rights organisation.
