Itanagar: The Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a project focused on empowering women self-help group (SHG) entrepreneurs in Arunachal Pradesh.
“This partnership aligns with PM Modi’s vision of Lakhpati Didi, fostering sustainable livelihoods through a Focussed Group approach,” Chief Minister Pema Khandu posted on X.
Strengthening women-led enterprises in Arunachal Pradesh.
ArSRLM has signed an MoU with IIT-Delhi to enhance value chains and improve market accessibility for our SHGs.This partnership aligns with Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s vision of Lakhpati Didi, fostering… pic.twitter.com/zS1eXGTKiB
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) March 7, 2025
The initiative will strengthen value chains and promote sustainable development by equipping women with essential business skills, financial literacy, and digital tools.
“Arunachal boasts a vibrant SHG ecosystem, with over 1.3 lakh members actively engaged in diverse entrepreneurial ventures, including handicrafts, agriculture, and food processing. Despite their significant progress, SHGs face challenges such as limited market access, financial exclusion, and information asymmetry, hindering their growth potential,” ArSRLM stated.
It said, “To address these challenges, IIT Delhi’s management studies department has developed a structured curriculum, comprising workshops, mentorship, and hands-on learning modules, initially targeting 100 SHG businesswomen. The programme will include sessions on value chain analysis and product development to help women entrepreneurs transition towards formal business structures and increase their market competitiveness.”
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Dr. Sonal Swaroop, Rural Development Secretary of Arunachal, stressed that empowering women entrepreneurs via skill development, digital tools, and market access is crucial for rural livelihood transformation.
According to the ArSRLM, this collaborative effort will significantly contribute to the growth of women-led micro-businesses and generate positive social and economic impacts across the state.
