News: Recently, the Minister of State, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), filed a written reply in the Lok Sabha regarding the progress of the Swavalambini programme.
About the SWAVALAMBINI Programme
- It is a Women Entrepreneurship Programme for young women in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
- Launched by– Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
- Implemented by: National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati and NITI Aayog.
- Coverage – It aims to establish over 30 women-led enterprises, particularly targeting regions like Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana in its pilot phase.
- Programme structure
- Target group: 1,200 female students from Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and universities.
- Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP): All 1,200 students attend an introductory programme to build basic awareness about entrepreneurship.
- Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): Out of these, 600 students receive advanced training covering skills, finance, market linkages, compliance, and networking.
- Mentorship support: This is followed by 21 weeks of mentorship and handholding to help them turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.
- NITI Aayog provides mentoring, helps with seed funding, and recognizes successful entrepreneurs through the Award to Reward (ATR) initiative.
