Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) and IIT Bhubaneswar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Mission Shakti Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, to strengthen rural women-led enterprises under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism, Smt. Pravati Parida attended the event.
The collaboration will launch an incubation programme through the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) to support growth-oriented rural businesses. IIT Bhubaneswar will act as the incubation partner, providing guidance in business planning, product development, quality improvement, market linkages, finance access, and professional networking.
Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–NRLM guidelines, at least 150 rural enterprises will receive incubation support over three years. The Ministry of Rural Development approved ₹10.70 crore for the programme, with ₹99 lakh sanctioned to IIT Bhubaneswar in the first phase.
The initiative aims to help Self-Help Groups (SHGs) evolve into small and medium enterprises. IIT Bhubaneswar will assist SHG entrepreneurs in obtaining Udyam registration, certifications, and patents to create distinct product identities.
Smt. Pravati Parida said the government is committed to empowering women as entrepreneurs. She described the partnership as a milestone toward “Viksit Odisha” and praised IIT Bhubaneswar’s role in enabling women to market their products nationally and globally.
Officials from Mission Shakti, OLM, and IIT Bhubaneswar, along with SHG members from across Odisha, joined the event virtually.
