Bhubaneswar, June 8: The Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT Bhubaneswar on Monday to support the development of rural women-led enterprises across the state.
According to an official statement, an incubation program is being launched to assist developmental rural enterprises under the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP) of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
IIT Bhubaneswar will serve as the incubation partner for this initiative. Through this collaboration, rural women entrepreneurs will receive support in business planning, product development, quality enhancement, market access, financial resources, and professional networking.
Guided by the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), the incubation process aims to assist at least 150 development-oriented rural enterprises over the next three years.
The central Ministry of Rural Development has approved an expenditure of ₹10.70 crore for this program. In the first phase, ₹99 lakh has been sanctioned to IIT Bhubaneswar for the implementation of this initiative.
The state government expressed optimism that the incubation program would foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Odisha and facilitate the transformation of self-help groups (SHGs) into small and medium enterprises. Identified SHG enterprises will receive assistance in obtaining necessary compliance and certification for business registration and establishment. IIT Bhubaneswar will also aid in securing patents and process certifications for select Odisha products to create distinct identities.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Prabhat Parida emphasized the government’s commitment not only to make women employable but also to develop them into successful entrepreneurs.
Parida noted that collaboration with a prestigious institution like IIT Bhubaneswar opens new doors of opportunity for women in self-help groups. Through technical guidance and advanced training, they will be able to establish their products on national and international platforms.
He described this initiative as a milestone towards a ‘Developed Odisha’ and a significant step in promoting women’s confidence and economic empowerment.
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