NEW DELHI: As part of its steps to support budding entrepreneurs, the government on April 21 will launch a new service, Twitter Seva, to address various queries of startups in a timebound manner.
"On April 21, we will be launching a 'Twitter Seva'. Any startup which wants to access government irrespective of any department, they can (put their queries)."
"The process is on. We would have a place where you can virtually contact us, tell us your issues. We have a team that will divert the things or issues to the particular ministry and then come back to you and try to reply in 24 hrs," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
She announced the launch of new service during an interaction with over 70 startup firms here at a co-working place.
During an hour-long interaction, the minister heard their issues and responded to their queries.
On the matters related to other departments, she assured them to take that up with the concerned ministries.
Sitharaman said that as part of follow-up of the action plan announced for startups by the Prime Minister in January, the ministry would be "meeting with you as in what exactly is happening in the start up place".
"Getting a feel, get inputs from you. We want the inputs to keep coming from you. I assure you that I will go back and come with responses. We will do course correction if required. We are here as a facilitator," she added.
The interaction was aimed at giving a thrust to budding entrepreneurs. Start-ups which participated in the open chat include Velmenni Lifi, Fitternity, Glance, DeliveryTrack, FoodTalk, Chakar, BabyBug Step and Marketing Masala.
"I am also accessible, you can come and meet me," Sitharaman said.
Replying to a question related with funding, she said the issue could be discussed with the finance ministry.
"Liquidity crunch today is not only affecting startups but commercial activity as a whole. The Finance Minister and the RBI are sensitive to the issue," she added.
She said that the ministry would try to work on reducing the number of approvals and clearances required for setting up a startup.
"We will try so that you do not have to run from one pillar to another," she said, adding she will take up the issue of creating a cybersecurity ecosystem with the IT and Telecommunications Minister.
To facilitate the registration process, the minister said the issue would be taken up with the Finance Ministry.
"We have to work together. Tell me what specific things you want. Give us suggestions and do not sit with questions," the minister said, adding such interactions should happen more often.
"Startup community should help in creation of yellow pages of various innovative products/solutions. This (yellow pages) could be taken up by relevant government agencies as and when required. Post the second half of the Budget session, we will be interacting with the co-working spaces," she said.