Kerala’s Minister for Local Self-Government, Shri M.B. Rajesh, underlined the state’s achievements in promoting women entrepreneurship through Kudumbashree. He expressed confidence that the workshop would act as a collaborative platform to design innovative solutions and accelerate enterprise incubation for rural women.
Representing MoRD, Joint Secretary (RL) Ms. Swati Sharma stressed that the Ministry envisions scaling the incubator program into a national platform for women-led rural entrepreneurship. She added that such initiatives would generate practical strategies, foster stronger partnerships, and ensure long-term sustainability.
Focus on Strategy, Mentorship, and Market Access
Ms. Rajeshwari S.M, Director (RL), MoRD, elaborated on the structure of DAY-NRLM and highlighted how the incubator project will help participating enterprises grow and compete in the market. The inaugural session also featured a welcome address by Kudumbashree Executive Director Shri H. Dineshan and a felicitation by Assam Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr. Bidyut C. Dekha.
The workshop agenda includes panel discussions on mentorship, financing, technology integration, and market access. Eminent experts from academia, industry, and social enterprises are contributing insights to help shape the scaling of rural enterprise incubators nationwide.
Towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047
The deliberations over the two days are expected to deliver concrete recommendations for scaling up rural enterprise incubation and boosting women entrepreneurship under DAY-NRLM. The initiative aligns with the government’s broader vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, where inclusive growth and women-led development are seen as key drivers of India’s future economy.
By enabling access to finance, mentorship, and markets, the program aims to transform SHGs into thriving enterprises that not only uplift individual families but also contribute significantly to rural economic development.