By Chetan Pania, Founder – Youth Economic Forum
India stands at a defining moment in its economic journey. With the world’s largest youth population and an ambitious vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, the true strength of our demographic dividend will be realized only when young Indians are empowered to become job creators, not merely job seekers. Manufacturing-led entrepreneurship, especially at the local and micro-industrial level, is central to this transformation.
However, one of the most critical yet ignored barriers faced by first-generation youth entrepreneurs today is access to small-sized, affordable industrial plots.
From Trusteeship to Transaction: A Structural Failure
Historically, State Industrial Development Corporations (SIDCs) and development authorities were created as trustee institutions—to facilitate industrial growth, nurture entrepreneurship, and promote balanced regional development. Unfortunately, over time, many of these institutions have drifted from their original mandate.
Today, a large number of industrial plots are:
Oversized, unsuitable for micro and small manufacturing units
Priced exorbitantly, often benchmarked to commercial real estate
Sold through auction mechanisms, favoring capital-rich investors rather than young entrepreneurs
As a result, first-generation entrepreneurs, especially from non-metropolitan and semi-urban India, are systematically excluded from the industrial ecosystem. A young person with skills, innovation, and intent is unable to set up even a small manufacturing unit due to unaffordable land costs.
This is not just a policy gap—it is a structural injustice to India’s youth.
Why Small Industrial Plots Matter for Youth
- Most youth-led manufacturing ventures do not require large industrial estates. What they need is:
- 50–250 square meter plots
- Reliable power, water, and basic infrastructure
- Affordable pricing and flexible payment models
- Proximity to local markets and supply chains
Such small-scale units are ideal for:
- Local manufacturing
- Traditional and indigenous industries
- MSMEs aligned with regional strengths
- Employment generation at the grassroots level
Denying access to such infrastructure forces youth either to abandon entrepreneurship or shift to informal and unregulated setups—both outcomes are detrimental to long-term economic development.
Aligning Youth Entrepreneurship with the ODOP Vision
The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is one of India’s most visionary programs to revive local industries, crafts, and manufacturing clusters. However, ODOP can achieve its true potential only when it is backed by physical industrial infrastructure accessible to youth.
Central and State Governments must :
Develop ODOP-linked Youth Industrial Clusters
Allocate small, affordable industrial plots exclusively for youth entrepreneurs
Encourage district-level manufacturing ecosystems rather than centralized mega parks
Imagine a young entrepreneur setting up a small food processing unit, textile workshop, handicraft manufacturing, or engineering component unit—within their own district, aligned with ODOP, supported by affordable land and policy backing. This is how local economies grow sustainably.
A Call for a National Youth Industrial Land Policy
The time has come for both the Central Government and all State Governments to jointly prepare a National Youth Industrial Land Roadmap, with the following core principles:
- Small-Size Industrial Plots
Mandatory allocation of small plots (50–250 sq. m.) in all new and existing industrial areas. - Affordable & Non-Auction-Based Allotment
Land should be allotted at subsidized or cost-based pricing through transparent eligibility criteria—not auctions. - Youth-Centric Eligibility Framework
Priority to first-generation entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs, women, and rural youth. - ODOP Integration
Every district must link industrial land allocation with ODOP products and local value chains. - Trusteeship Model Revival
Industrial development corporations must return to their role as facilitators and enablers, not profit-maximizing real estate entities.
Investing in Youth Is Investing in India’s Future
If India truly wants to become a global manufacturing hub, it must begin by democratizing access to industrial infrastructure. Large investors and multinational corporations have their place—but the backbone of India’s economy will always be its local industries, MSMEs, and youth entrepreneurs.
Affordable industrial land is not a subsidy; it is a strategic investment in national growth, employment, and social stability.
At the Youth Economic Forum, we firmly believe that empowering youth with land, skills, and opportunity will unlock India’s next wave of inclusive and sustainable development. It is time for policy frameworks to reflect this belief—not in speeches, but in actionable roadmaps.
The future of Indian manufacturing must rise from the hands of its youth—on land they can afford, in districts they belong to, and in industries that reflect India’s true economic soul.
