Women Entrepreneurship: What's The Good News For Arunachal Pradesh?

The second State Workshop on Enabling Women-led Development through Entrepreneurship, organized by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, marked a significant milestone in fostering women's entrepreneurship in the region. Held recently at the Dorjee Khandu State Convention Center, Itanagar, the workshop brought together representatives from all eight north-eastern states.

Women Entrepreneurship Cell

The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, graced the inaugural session as the Chief Guest, where he announced the establishment of a dedicated Women Entrepreneurship Cell with an initial funding of INR 5 crore. This initiative aligns with the government's commitment to inclusive development under the mantra of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas." The newly formed cell will conduct specialized programs, including incubation and acceleration, to support women entrepreneurs in the state.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary Dharmendra emphasized the government’s initiatives to support women’s entrepreneurship, spanning access to finance, skill development, digital literacy, and mentorship.

Collaborations and Program Launches

The workshop witnessed the launch of several initiatives aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in the north-eastern states. Under the Award to Reward (ATR) program of WEP, partnerships with industry leaders were forged to address key sectors.

CatalyseTech EntreprenueHer Innovation Challenge

In collaboration with Atal Innovation Centre-SELCO Foundation, this initiative focuses on supporting clean energy entrepreneurship among women entrepreneurs.

Maitri Program

Launched in partnership with MakeMyTrip, this program aims to provide training and capacity building for women homestay owners in the north-eastern region, fostering the growth of women entrepreneurs.

NASSCOM Future Skills Program

This collaboration focuses on skilling women entrepreneurs in Non-tech, Semi-tech, and Tech backgrounds through short learning modules.

FLO MSME Assist Centre

Launched by FICCI FLO, this helpdesk provides North-Eastern women entrepreneurs with mentorship, networking opportunities, skill development, and access to new markets.

5. **Womenpreneur Program:** Launched by BITS Pilani and Aditya Birla Foundation, this program recognizes women enterprises transforming India through tech-led approaches, offering an 18-month-long incubation program and an opportunity to win seed funding of up to Rs. 10 Lacs.

Enhancements to WEP Platform

To extend the reach of WEP, partners Mastercard and SquarePanda announced new features, including content in 12 languages, a chatbot, and several other tools to enhance the user experience.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged participants to register on the WEP platform (www.wep.gov.in) and take advantage of the programs launched during the workshop.

The workshop recorded an impressive turnout of over 1500 participants, including women entrepreneurs, local self-help groups, government officials, industry representatives, incubators/accelerators, financial institutions, and philanthropic foundations. The sessions provided valuable insights and opportunities for women entrepreneurs, and the tech experience center curated by the SELCO Foundation showcased sustainable tech entrepreneurs from the north-eastern region.

The success of the workshop underscores the commitment of NITI Aayog, WEP, and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in creating a conducive ecosystem for women-led development through entrepreneurship, furthering the vision of a more inclusive and sustainable future.

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