IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and JSLPS Launch Jharkhand Incubator to Empower Rural Women Entrepreneurs

• Three-year initiative will identify and support high-potential women entrepreneurs across Jharkhand’s 24 districts and 264 blocks

IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), in partnership with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), has commenced the on-ground implementation of the Jharkhand Incubator Programme following a state-level launch and orientation programme held in Ranchi.

Approved by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, the programme is being implemented by IIMCIP with support from JSLPS. The initiative aims to accelerate grassroots economic transformation by strengthening entrepreneurship among rural women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through a structured pathway that enables them to transition from livelihood-based activities to scalable enterprises.

The programme was launched in the presence of Smt. Dipika Pandey Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand, along with Shri. Manoj Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand; Smt. Garima Singh, IAS, Managing Director, Jharcraft; Shri Ananya Mittal, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society, with senior representatives from IIMCIP, JSLPS and the wider entrepreneurship and development ecosystem.

Commenting on the launch, Ajay Jain, Chairman, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park Board, said, "Women are building enterprises with ambition and resilience across rural India. Their success has the potential to transform not only household incomes but also trigger local economies. They are also the change agents of our society, breaking generational patterns and leading the way for future entrepreneurs. IIMCIP partnership with the Jharkhand Incubator Programme to equip eligible women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and customized guidance is another step in our commitment to drive inclusive economic growth.”

Shri. Ananya Mittal, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, JSLPS said, "The Jharkhand Incubator Programme reflects our commitment to advancing rural entrepreneurship by combining JSLPS's deep community presence with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park's incubation expertise. Together, we aim to identify women entrepreneurs across the state and connect them with the right resources and opportunities to grow their enterprises. We also see this initiative as an opportunity to enhance the capacities of our field teams, creating a stronger ecosystem to support women entrepreneurs over the long term."

The two-day programme included expert-led discussions on enterprise development, innovation, digital inclusion and market access for rural women-led businesses. Sessions were led by experts from Atal Innovation Mission, Digital Empowerment Foundation and IIM Calcutta, covering topics such as AI-driven solutions for rural women entrepreneurs, branding, digital empowerment and innovation-led enterprise development.

An orientation session was also held for JSLPS district and block teams, briefing them on the programme delivery and their role in identifying women entrepreneurs. The session was attended by 118 participants, including District Programme Managers (DPMs), District Managers - Enterprise Promotion (DM-EPs), Block Programme Officers - Enterprise Promotion (BPO-EPs), and Young Professionals - Non-Farm Livelihood (YP-NFLs). It also included hands-on training on the programme application process to support effective implementation across the state.

During this three-year initiative, women entrepreneurs from Sakhi Mandals across Jharkhand’s 24 districts and 264 blocks will be assessed, with the top 500 selected for advanced training, mentoring, and incubation. The programme will also strengthen the capacity of JSLPS officials and community resource persons to mentor and guide rural women-led enterprises. 

From Left-right – 1. Name - Smt. Garima Singh, IAS, Managing Director, Jharcraft 2. Name - Shri. Manoj Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand 3. Name - Smt. Dipika Pandey Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand 4. Name - Shri Ananya Mittal, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society 5. Name - Shri. Himanshu Joshi, Program Director, Atal Innovation Mission

About IIM Calcutta Innovation Park

The IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a not-for-profit (Section 8) company established under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in India. Recognised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, IIMCIP’s mission is to nurture innovative, socially impactful entrepreneurs who can drive inclusive growth.

Its core offerings span structured mentoring, capacity building, seed funding and access to markets and investors. To date, IIMCIP has supported over 2,000 startups and seed-funded 136 ventures, which have collectively raised more than ₹2,000 crore and built a cumulative portfolio valuation of nearly ₹8,000 crore.

IIMCIP also works closely with government bodies, corporates and academia to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem, foster high-impact collaborations and promote women’s entrepreneurship, with a special focus on underserved regions of the country.