Jharkhand's 'Sakhi Mandal Didis' Set to Become Business Experts; MOU Signed Between JSLPS and IIM Kolkata
Ranchi: A significant step has been taken toward empowering Jharkhand's rural economy and transforming women associated with 'Sakhi Mandals' (Self-Help Groups) into skilled entrepreneurs. On Monday, a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) and IIM Kolkata (IIMCIP). The primary objective of this initiative is to equip the state's women with expertise in business management and commercial intricacies.
A Three-Year Plan: 24 Districts to Benefit
This MOU will remain in effect for a period of three years. Under this agreement, IIMCIP Kolkata will assume the role of an 'incubator.' Women belonging to Sakhi Mandals—active across 264 blocks spanning all 24 districts of the state—will now learn how to tailor their products and enterprises to align with market demands.
Special Selection of 500 Women Entrepreneurs
In the first phase of the scheme, a database comprising approximately 50,000 rural women entrepreneurs from across the state will be compiled. From this pool, 500 high-performing women will be selected and trained in the nuances of comprehensive business management. The primary goal of this training is to help these women achieve an annual business turnover running into crores.
Target: Bringing 150 'Didis' into the 'Crorepati Club'
Under this special project, 150 deserving women entrepreneurs will be identified and trained—using incubation techniques—to establish businesses capable of generating an annual turnover of one crore rupees. To facilitate this, JSLPS officials and community cadres (CRP-EP) will also be trained and made proficient in incubation skills.
Free Services and a ₹5 Crore Fund
To ensure the sustainability of this support system even after the scheme's tenure concludes, a local incubator will be developed in each administrative division of the state. These services will be provided to the women completely free of cost. Additionally, a provision of ₹5 crore has been made in the form of equity funds and soft loans to provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs.
Signatories
The MoU was signed by Vishnu Parida, COO of JSLPS, and Dr. Vivek Kumar Roy, CEO of IIMCIP Kolkata. Several other officials, including Dr. Gaurav Kapoor, Nitish Kumar Sinha, Tumul Taran, Dheeraj Pandey, and Nishant Dev, were present on this occasion.
