Project Overview
Project Udyamita is a pilot initiative implemented by CSDD with CSR funding from the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), targeting rural women empowerment through entrepreneurship in Namsai Aspirational District, Arunachal Pradesh.
The project focused on three interconnected pillars — Education, Skills, and Access — targeting 400 Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWEs) from Self-Help Groups affiliated to Primary Level Federations under ArSRLM across two development blocks.
Project Details
Project Objectives
Project Geography & Target Communities
| Block | Panchayat | PLF | SHGs | Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lekang | Khouji 1 | Ujjval PLF | 10 | 111 |
| Lekang | Sitpani Miri | Aadum PLF | 7 | 68 |
| Lekang | Sitpani Miri | Lolat PLF | 4 | 22 |
| Namsai | Pathergaon | Nang Musungtri PLF | 13 | 120 |
| Namsai | Manhofai | Moya Kamko PLF | 8 | 90 |
Udyamita Kendras Established
Kendra 1 – Sitpani Miri
Lekang BlockKendra 2 – Pathergaon
Namsai BlockEach Kendra equipped with: HP/Dell Desktop (Core i3, 8GB, 512GB), All-in-One Printer, UPS 600VA, Aadhaar Biometric Scanner & Lamination Machine
Key Activities Undertaken
Multi-Stakeholder Meeting
Landmark meeting on 22 Jan 2026, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Namsai. Attended by 15+ institutions including NABARD, ArSRLM, 5 banks, KVK, AUS, and civil society organizations.
RWE Need Assessment
Structured survey of 39 SHGs across 4 PLFs. Found 89.7% of women feared online banking despite 100% bank account ownership — validating the digital inclusion focus.
EDP Orientations
291 women across 30 SHGs trained in entrepreneurship modules: livelihood-to-business transition, business planning, product & quality, marketing, and loan management.
Mushroom Enterprise Training
72+ women trained via KVK Namsai under the Tribal Sub-Plan. Covered Oyster, Button & Paddy Straw varieties — full lifecycle from substrate to value-added products.
Banking Camps with SBI
216 SHG members engaged across 4 financial literacy camps in both blocks. Covered KCC loans, Mudra schemes, and digital banking. 10 KCC applications submitted to SBI Namsai.
Digital & Social Media Training
30 women from 4 PLFs trained on 28 Mar 2026 at Umang CLF venue: WhatsApp Business, UPI, product photography, Facebook marketing, e-commerce onboarding & cyber safety. Skills Passports awarded.
Scientific Piggery Training
20 SHG members from Moya Kamko PLF (Manhofai, Namsai Block) received scientific piggery training coordinated with the District Veterinary Office.
Advanced Pickles Training
20 women from Ujjval PLF trained in value-added pickle processing of bamboo shoots, king chili, ginger & wild berries — covering FSSAI packaging, labelling, and digital marketing.
Key Outputs & Achievements
| Output / Deliverable | Target | Achievement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiE Clusters Enabled | 2 | 2 (Lekang & Namsai Block) | Achieved |
| Udyamita Sakhis Trained | 2 | 2 deployed & active | Achieved |
| RWEs Identified & Mobilised | 400 | ~400 across 5 PLFs, 30+ SHGs | Achieved |
| Udyamita Kendras Established | 2 | 2 (Sitpani Miri & Pathergaon) | Achieved |
| Baseline Survey | 1 | 39 SHGs, 4 PLFs surveyed | Achieved |
| Multi-Stakeholder Meeting | 1 | 22 Jan 2026, DC Office, Namsai | Achieved |
| EDP Orientation | >300 | ~291 women, 30 SHGs | Substantially Achieved |
| Financial Literacy Camps (SBI) | As planned | 4 camps, 216+ members engaged | Achieved |
| Mushroom Training (KVK, TSP) | As planned | 72+ women, 3 training events | Achieved |
| Digital & Social Media Training | As planned | 30 women from 4 PLFs, 28 Mar 2026 | Achieved |
| Hardware Kits Deployed | 2 sets | 2 complete Digital Kits installed | Achieved |
Convergences & Institutional Linkages
ArSRLM
Project built on existing PLF/SHG infrastructure; Kendras positioned within community structures; pickle training under ArSRLM guidelines.
KVK Namsai / Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Mushroom enterprise training delivered by KVK under the Tribal Sub-Plan scheme — direct government resource convergence.
State Bank of India (Namsai)
Financial literacy camps co-organised; loan applications facilitated (KCC, Mudra, PMEGP); ongoing post-camp follow-up.
District Administration, Namsai
Deputy Commissioner met personally and affirmed full support. Multi-stakeholder meeting convened and chaired by DC office.
NABARD, Namsai
Strong interest in digital component; recommended convergence with Umang CLF (50+ PLFs, 200+ SHGs); potential for future integration.
Umang CLF & Sector Departments
Digital training held at Umang CLF venue. District Agriculture, Veterinary & Horticulture offices facilitated sector-specific training.
Sustainability of Interventions
Udyamita Kendras
Two community-owned digital hubs now operational, designed to integrate CSC & CSP services for financial self-sustainability through service-based revenue.
Embedded Sakhis
Two Udyamita Sakhis are community members embedded within ArSRLM's cadre — trained in digital services, financial facilitation & enterprise mentorship.
Institutional Framework
Active linkages with SBI, KVK, DAO, ArSRLM & District Administration provide a ready ecosystem without requiring fresh project funding.
Loan Pipeline
10 KCC applications submitted to SBI Namsai. Additional KCC & Mudra loan applications being enrolled for FY 2026-27.
Digital Assets
Skills Passports awarded, WhatsApp Business accounts, digital catalogs & social media pages created for women entrepreneurs to continue independently.
SHG-PLF Ecosystem
Project operated within and strengthened the ArSRLM community hierarchy, with DC-level governance providing a framework for future convergence.
Key Learnings
Digital Hesitancy is the Primary Barrier, Not Access
Despite 100% bank account ownership, 89.7% of women feared online banking. Peer-led, hands-on demonstration through community-embedded Sakhis proved far more effective than instructional approaches.
Convergence Multiplies Impact
Leveraging KVK's TSP scheme, ArSRLM infrastructure, SBI banking services, and DAO agricultural schemes delivered training far beyond what the project budget alone could support.
End-to-End Support is Critical
Stakeholders consistently highlighted the 'What Next?' gap after training. The Udyamita Sakhi model, providing post-training handholding and application facilitation, directly addresses this gap.
Village-Level Infrastructure Removes Mobility Barriers
Placing Kendras within the women's own Panchayats removed the travel barrier to Namsai town. Village-level infrastructure is a prerequisite for rural women's entrepreneurship.
Project Gallery & Dashboard
Conclusion
Project Udyamita: Women in Entrepreneurship has been successfully implemented within the approved timeline and budget in Namsai Aspirational District. The project demonstrates that a focused, community-embedded, convergence-driven model can create lasting infrastructure and institutional linkages for rural women entrepreneurs in a short timeframe.
The two Udyamita Kendras are operational as permanent digital hubs serving nearly 400 women across 5 PLFs. Over 291 women received EDP training; 72+ received mushroom enterprise training; 30 received digital and social media training; and over 216 engaged with financial literacy and banking facilitation. Most significantly, the project has built an ecosystem — the DC's support, ArSRLM's partnership, SBI's collaboration, and KVK's resources represent a convergence platform that did not exist before.