MoU signed between OLM and IIT Bhubaneswar to boost rural women entrepreneurs
Bhubaneswar, June 9
In a significant move to bolster rural women-led enterprises, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Odisha Livelihoods Mission and IIT Bhubaneswar at the Mission Shakti Bhawan on Monday. The exchange took place in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women & Child Development, Pravati Parida.
Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), an incubation programme is being launched through the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) to support growth-oriented rural enterprises across the State. IIT Bhubaneswar will serve as the incubation partner, providing support in business planning, product development, quality enhancement, market linkages, access to finance, and professional networking.
According to the guidelines of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), at least 150 growth-oriented rural enterprises will be supported through the incubation process over the next three years. The Union Ministry of Rural Development has approved an expenditure of ₹10.70 crore for this programme. In the first phase, ₹99 lakh has been sanctioned to IIT Bhubaneswar for the implementation of the initiative.
The programme aims to create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to transform into small and medium enterprises. Furthermore, IIT Bhubaneswar will assist in securing patents and process certifications to help create unique identities for select products from Odisha.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida stated that the government is committed to nurturing women as successful entrepreneurs. "The collaboration with a premier institution like IIT Bhubaneswar has opened new avenues of opportunity for SHG women. Through technical guidance and advanced training, they will be able to position their products at national and international levels," she said.
Highlighting the state's progress, Smt. Parida noted that Odisha has achieved its 'Lakhpati Didi' goal and is now working towards the 'Crorepati Didi' target. She emphasised that the state currently has 23,000 'Lakhpati Didis' and the administration aims to elevate them further. She added that all finances for these initiatives will be managed by the department.
Prof. Sripada Karmalkar, Director of IIT Bhubaneswar, expressed the institute's commitment to the mission. "We are very happy that we will be able to help these 150 women entrepreneurs in Odisha. This will affect society in a good way," he said.
The initiative is envisioned to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Viksit Bharat" and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's "Viksit Odisha" vision, significantly contributing to the economic empowerment and confidence of women across the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from a rural family, I've seen how SHGs transform local women's lives. This MoU sounds promising, but I hope the execution is as good as the paperwork. Often, such initiatives get stuck in bureaucratic red tape. Let's see how many women actually benefit in the next three years.
"Lakhpati Didi" to "Crorepati Didi"—that's a big jump, but why not aim high? 😅 Odisha has some unique products like Pattachitra, terracotta, and handloom. With IIT's help in patents and certification, these could become global brands. Hope the government ensures timely fund release.
Finally, a move that connects rural women with modern tech and business planning! The Rs 10.70 crore investment seems reasonable if it genuinely supports 150 enterprises. My only concern is that IITs have limited experience in rural incubation—will they adapt their approach to local realities? Hope so.
Love the focus on "Viksit Odisha" and women empowerment in tandem. This is what true development looks like—not just building flyovers but building capacity at the grassroots. Kudos to Deputy CM Pravati Parida ji for pushing this. 🇮🇳
Very impressed with this public-private-academic partnership model. Rural women entrepreneurs in India are incredibly resilient, and technical backup from an IIT could be a game-changer. Hope similar MoUs are signed in other states too—this is how you build a Viksit Bharat from the ground up!
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