IIT Delhi and ArSRLM sign MoU to support women entrepreneurs in Arunachal

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission, to provide a chance for the empowerment of women SHG entrepreneurs in Arunachal Pradesh. This will strengthen value chains and go a long way toward creating sustained development by imparting rest of the necessary business skills, financial literacy, and digital tools.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Arunachal’s Rural Development Secretary Dr Sonal Swaroop emphasised the initiative’s alignment with the ArSRLM’s mission, saying, “Empowering women entrepreneurs through skill development, digital tools, and market access is key to transforming rural livelihoods. This project will enable SHG members to engage more effectively with financial and commercial networks and integrate into value chains for increased economic opportunities.”

ArSRLM CEO Sangeeta Yirang stressed the importance of contextualised interventions, highlighting that “the project’s success depends on its deep integration with Arunachal Pradesh’ socioeconomic realities.”

Prof Seema Sharma of IIT Delhi stated, “This project will create a cascading effect, fostering entrepreneurial confidence, strengthening local value chains, and advancing financial inclusion for women in Arunachal Pradesh.”

Prof Gourav Dwivedi of IIT Delhi highlighted the potential of the award-winning Arunachal SHG movement, and added, “Apart from the current project, this MoU is a starting point that will open new doors for collaboration, attracting brilliant minds from IIT Delhi to develop specific solutions that can lead to increased entrepreneurial activities and a thriving ecosystem for overall development in Arunachal Pradesh.”

“This collaboration marks a significant step towards fostering women-led micro-businesses and driving positive social and economic change in Arunachal,” the ArSRLM said.