Bhubaneswar: Rural women entrepreneurs in Odisha will receive structured support from IIT Bhubaneswar in business planning, product development, quality improvement, market linkages, access to finance, and professional networking. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Odisha Livelihoods Mission and the institute on Monday.
Incubation Programme Under NRLM
The partnership is part of an incubation programme being rolled out under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) through the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP). IIT Bhubaneswar will act as the incubation partner to strengthen growth-oriented rural enterprises across the state.
Targets and Funding
As per Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) guidelines, at least 150 growth-oriented rural enterprises will be taken through the incubation process over the next three years. The Ministry of Rural Development has approved an expenditure of Rs 10.7 crore for the programme. In the first phase, Rs 99 lakh has been sanctioned to IIT Bhubaneswar for implementation, sources said.
Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
The programme aims to build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem and help self-help groups (SHGs) transition into small and medium enterprises. Identified SHG-run enterprises will be supported in securing Udyam registration, completing mandatory compliances, and obtaining certifications required for setting up and scaling businesses, according to a statement from the Department of Mission Shakti.
Technical Assistance for Patents
IIT Bhubaneswar will also provide technical assistance for patents and process certifications for select products, with the objective of creating unique product identities and improving market positioning for niche offerings from Odisha.
Government Vision
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the government's focus is not limited to making women employable but extends to grooming them as entrepreneurs. She stated that collaboration with IIT Bhubaneswar would enable SHG women to access technical guidance and advanced training to place their products in national and international markets. Parida termed the initiative a milestone towards 'Viksit Odisha' and a step towards enhancing women's confidence and economic empowerment. She later interacted with Lakhpati Didis and discussed their journeys.
End-to-End Support
IIT Bhubaneswar Director Shreepad Karmalkar said incubated enterprises would receive end-to-end support for Udyam registration, regulatory compliance, and enterprise certifications, along with assistance in patent filing and product certifications for select items.
