ITANAGAR: In a bid to support women entrepreneurs and create a conducive environment for their growth, Arunachal Pradesh has earmarked Rs 5 crore to set up a development cell in the state.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pema Khandu during the opening session of NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) state workshop in Itanagar on Friday.
“Women-led development has always been the priority of the government of India and the government of Arunachal Pradesh,” he said, outlining the objectives of the newly proposed development cell.
Chief Minister Khandu envisions it to be a central hub for women entrepreneurs, providing essential resources such as mentorship, capacity-building exercises, and other programmes aimed at fostering the growth of women-led startups.
The cell will also facilitate dedicated incubation and acceleration programmes tailored for women entrepreneurs, he said.
The Chief Minister also disclosed that out of over 20,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, approximately 6,500 are owned by women.
He also emphasised the importance of the Arunachal Pradesh Start-up Policy, noting that it includes provisions for establishing at least one incubation centre in the state, with plans to extend facilities to at least 50% of the districts over the next five years.
Lauding NITI Aayog’s efforts in organising the workshop for women entrepreneurs from the Northeast, Khandu commended the institution’s role in promoting entrepreneurship.
He highlighted that over the past seven years, the state government has adopted a comprehensive approach to create an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs.
This approach includes various interventions, such as policy support, financial aid through front-ended subsidies, and the allocation of specific schemes for women entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs.
The programme was also attended by NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission Director Dr Chintan Vaishnav, co-lead for WEP in states Yashodhara Rajoria, WEP Executive Committee member Anna Roy, Chief Secretary Dharmendra, and representatives from both central and state governments.
