Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh: In a remarkable success for women-led development and entrepreneurship, NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, conducted the Second State Workshop at the Dorjee Khandu State Convention Center, Itanagar, on November 24, 2023.
The Chief Guest, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, announced the establishment of a Women Entrepreneurship Cell with an initial funding of INR 5 crore to support women entrepreneurs in the state. This significant initiative aligns with the Government’s commitment to “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.” The Chief Minister congratulated WEP for building an ecosystem for women entrepreneurs and expressed optimism for continued collaboration.
Chief Secretary, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Dharmendra, highlighted the government’s initiatives to support women’s entrepreneurship, emphasizing access to finance, skill development, digital literacy, and mentorship.
Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission NITI Aayog, shared insights through Viksit Bharat 2047, aiming to enable an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Anna Roy, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog and Mission Director WEP, emphasized NITI Aayog’s mandate for cooperative federalism and WEP’s role as a catalyst for women-led development in the Northeast. Successful women entrepreneurs shared their journeys and insights.
The workshop witnessed the launch of several initiatives under the Award to Reward (ATR) of WEP, curated in partnership with industry and ecosystem leaders. The “CatalyseTech EntreprenueHer Innovation Challenge” focused on supporting clean energy entrepreneurship. The “Maitri program” in partnership with MakeMyTrip aimed at training and capacity building of women homestay owners. Other collaborations included the “NASSCOM Future Skills Program,” the “FLO MSME Assist Centre” by FICCI FLO, and the “Womenpreneur” program by BITS Pilani and Aditya Birla Foundation.
To extend WEP’s reach, partners Mastercard and SquarePanda announced new features, including content in 12 languages and a chatbot.
The workshop, with over 1500 participants, proved instrumental in strengthening the entrepreneurial journeys of women. It also featured a tech experience center curated by the SELCO Foundation showcasing sustainable tech entrepreneurs from the Northeast.