Odisha Livelihoods Mission, IIT Bhubaneswar Join Hands to Boost Rural Women Entrepreneurship

In a major initiative aimed at strengthening women-led enterprises in rural Odisha, the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) and IIT Bhubaneswar exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sunday to launch a dedicated incubation programme for rural entrepreneurs.

The agreement was exchanged at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism, Pravati Parida.

Incubation Programme Under NRLM

The incubation programme will be implemented under the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), a component of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). IIT Bhubaneswar has been selected as the incubation partner for the initiative.

Through the collaboration, rural women entrepreneurs will receive comprehensive support in business planning, product development, quality improvement, branding, market linkages, access to finance and professional networking.

The programme aims to help growth-oriented enterprises expand their operations and become sustainable business ventures.

150 Rural Enterprises to Benefit

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 programme over the next three years.

The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has approved a budget of ₹10.70 crore for the initiative. In the first phase, ₹99 lakh has been sanctioned to IIT Bhubaneswar for implementation of the programme.

Officials said the initiative will create a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Odisha and encourage Self-Help Group (SHG) enterprises to evolve into small and medium-scale businesses.

Support for Certification, Registration and Patents

As part of the programme, selected SHG enterprises will receive assistance in obtaining Udyam registration, statutory compliances and other certifications required for business expansion.

IIT Bhubaneswar will also provide technical guidance for securing patents, process certifications and product standardisation, helping create unique identities for Odisha-based products in competitive markets.

The collaboration is expected to improve product quality, strengthen branding and enhance market access for women entrepreneurs across the state.

Government Focused on Creating Women Entrepreneurs

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the state government is committed not only to making women employable but also to nurturing them into successful entrepreneurs.

She said the partnership with IIT Bhubaneswar would provide SHG members with access to technical expertise, innovation and advanced training, enabling them to compete in national and international markets.

Describing the initiative as a significant step towards building a “Viksit Odisha,” she said it would play a crucial role in enhancing women’s confidence, financial independence and economic empowerment.

Mahalakshapati Didis Share Success Stories

During the programme, the Deputy Chief Minister interacted with Mahalakshapati Didis and listened to their inspiring journeys from hardship to entrepreneurial success.

Senior officials from the Mission Shakti Department, Odisha Livelihoods Mission and IIT Bhubaneswar attended the event. Women entrepreneurs, Lakhpati Didis and Mahalakshapati Didis from across the state also participated, while officials and SHG members joined virtually from different districts.

Officials said the initiative would open new avenues of growth for rural women entrepreneurs and contribute to the vision of a developed Odisha and a developed India through women-led economic transformation.