Guwahati, Feb 8: In a bold stride towards fostering women-led enterprises, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog, has launched Swavalambini — a Women Entrepreneurship Programme in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
Designed to ignite entrepreneurial ambitions among female students, this initiative offers structured training, mentorship, and financial support to nurture the next generation of business leaders in the region.
The programme is being implemented across several higher educational institutions including North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Kiang Nangbah Government College, Ri Bhoi College in Meghalaya; Mizoram University, Government Champhai College, Lunglei Government College in Mizoram and Gauhati University, Handique College and Dispur College in Assam, among others.
For the first time, MSDE and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) have introduced a stage-wise framework that guides participants from initial awareness to venture development, mentorship, and funding. Successful entrepreneurs will receive awards and recognition to inspire other aspiring women leaders.
The virtual inauguration witnessed participation from nine prestigious educational institutions, including Gauhati University, NEHU and Mizoram University. Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State in-charge for MSDE, hailed the initiative as a turning point for the region.
“Swavalambini is a testament to our commitment to empowering young women as job creators and leaders of tomorrow. By nurturing talent and supporting scalable ideas, we aim to unlock the immense potential of this vibrant region” he said.
The programme aligns with India’s broader push for women-led entrepreneurship through key initiatives like Start-Up India, Stand-Up India, and PM Mudra Yojana. The recent Union Budget 2025 further solidifies this vision by extending tax exemptions and allocating a ₹10,000 crore fund for start-ups.
The initiative offers a two-day Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) to 600 students, introducing them to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. For 300 selected participants, the intensive Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) spans 40 hours, covering essential business skills, market access, financial strategies, and legal compliance. This is followed by six months of mentorship to help participants transform ideas into viable ventures.
Faculty members from participating institutions will also undergo specialised training to effectively guide and mentor budding.
A distinctive feature of the programme is the Award to Rewards Initiative, which will celebrate successful women entrepreneurs emerging from Swavalambini.
