Project Overview
Project Udyamita was a time-bound CSR pilot initiative executed by CSDD with financial support from Slice Small Finance Bank Limited. The project targeted rural women entrepreneurs (RWEs) in Kamrup district — spanning Rani Block (Bahupara & Kaharpara clusters) and Sualkuchi (Bongshar cluster).
The pilot bridged the critical gap between basic livelihood activities and sustainable entrepreneurship by delivering four interconnected interventions: a rigorous baseline need assessment, sector-specific technical skill training, financial literacy & banking awareness, and establishment of two community-level enterprise resource centres.
Project Details
Project Objectives
Project Geography — Two Clusters
Rani Block Cluster
Bahupara & Kaharpara · Kamrup (R)Sualkuchi Block Cluster
Bongshar · SualkuchiRWE Need Assessment — Key Findings
Rani Block — 220 RWEs
Multi-sector landscapeSualkuchi Block — 92 RWEs
Handloom-focused; Assam's silk hubRani Block — Enterprise Landscape (Top Value Chains)
| Value Chain | No. of Entrepreneurs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Handloom | 84 | 19.2% |
| Food Products | 82 | 18.8% |
| Tailoring | 71 | 16.2% |
| Dairy | 48 | 11.0% |
| Goatery | 45 | 10.3% |
| Piggery | 41 | 9.4% |
| Mushroom Cultivation | 23 | 5.3% |
| Grocery & Others | 42 | 9.6% |
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Implementation Chronology
RWE Need Assessment Survey
Structured Google Form-based baseline covering 312 RWEs across Rani Block (220) and Sualkuchi Block (92). Collected informed consent data across enterprise profile, financial inclusion, market access, and training needs.
Launch Awareness Meeting — Bahupara, Rani
~40 RWEs and community members brought together with Slice Bank & CSDD representatives including Dr. Syed Kazi and Mrs. Sharmistha Deka. Introduced project objectives, credit products, and government scheme pathways.
3-Day Tailoring Training — Kaharpara, Rani
25 RWEs trained by Ms. Madhusmita Das (6–7 years experience). Covered tools and body measurement, machine operation and stitch types, advanced stitching, troubleshooting, and self-employment guidance.
3-Day Handloom Training — Rani Bazar Chowk
25 RWEs trained by Mr. Dinesh Nath (WSC Certified, 30 years experience). Covered handloom tools, bobbin binding (Bati Kata), frame & loom setup, jacquard design introduction, practical jacquard weaving and maintenance.
Awareness Meeting — Bongshar, Sualkuchi
Introduced Udyamita Kendra to the Bongshar community; interactive session on entrepreneurial opportunities, financial inclusion, and government schemes for handloom weavers.
4-Day Tailoring Training — Bongshar, Sualkuchi
40 RWEs trained by Ms. Anima Kalita. All participants received hands-on tailoring skills and certificates distributed on 19 March 2026 in presence of SLICE Bank Sualkuchi Branch Head.
Inauguration — Udyamita Kendra, Kaharpara (Rani)
Formally inaugurated in presence of local community leaders, SHG representatives, CLF members, Anganwadi workers, and Udyamita Sakhi Ms. Manashi Das. Now serves as permanent hub for entrepreneurship support and digital services.
Inauguration — Udyamita Kendra, Bongshar (Sualkuchi)
Formally inaugurated with Ms. Sharmista Deka, Mr. Arup Chandra Das, and SLICE Bank Sualkuchi Branch Head in attendance. Strong community ownership and high institutional visibility demonstrated.
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Udyamita Kendra — Services Delivered
Udyam Registration
Facilitating formal enterprise registration via Government's Udyam portal for unregistered RWEs
SLICE Account Opening
Assisting RWEs in opening zero-balance savings accounts with Slice SFB at the Kendra
Loan Application Support
Handholding for MUDRA, NRLM loan applications and documentation preparation
Digital Services & UPI
Assisting women navigate e-services, online applications, and UPI adoption for daily transactions
Document Services
Photocopy and scanning support for registrations, loan applications, and official documentation
Advisory Services
Ongoing advisory on entrepreneurship, market access, scheme eligibility, and business development
Key Outputs — Achievement Against Targets
| Planned Output | Target | Achieved | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiE Clusters Enabled | 2 | 2 (Rani Block & Sualkuchi) | Achieved |
| Udyamita Sakhis Deployed | 2 | 2 CERPs deployed & operational | Achieved |
| Udyamita Kendras Established | 2 | 2 (Kaharpara-Rani & Bongshar) | Achieved |
| RWE Need Assessment | 1 | 312 RWEs surveyed across 2 blocks | Achieved |
| Technical Skill Training (Rani) | 2 sectors | Tailoring (25) + Handloom (25) RWEs | Achieved |
| Technical Skill Training (Sualkuchi) | 1 programme | 40 RWEs — Tailoring | Achieved |
| Certificate Distribution | All trainees | Completed 19 March 2026 | Achieved |
| Digital Kits Deployed at Kendras | 2 kits | 2 kits (laptop, printer, biometric each) | Achieved |
Key Outcomes & Impact Highlights
Capacity Building
155+ RWEs trained across Handloom and Tailoring sectors with practical, hands-on technical skills including machine operation, maintenance, and repair — enabling self-sufficiency and reduced operational downtime.
Community Infrastructure
Two Udyamita Kendras established and equipped with digital kits (laptop, printer, biometric device), creating permanent community-level enterprise resource hubs with institutional visibility.
Evidence Base Generated
Comprehensive baseline dataset covering 312 RWEs across 14 value chains. Data confirms a financially disciplined cohort: 52.7% (Rani) and 73.9% (Sualkuchi) timely repayment rates — highly bankable for Slice SFB credit products.
Institutional Linkages
Active CSDD-SLICE SFB cooperation established at community level; Udyamita Sakhi model operationalised — two trained enterprise enablers embedded in their respective clusters serving nearly 300 beneficiaries.
Challenges & Key Learnings
⚠ Challenges Encountered
✓ Key Learnings
Recommendations for Phase 2
Enterprise Formalization
Dedicated Udyam & Trade License camps for 204 unregistered enterprises; FSSAI support for 82 food-sector entrepreneurs.
Financial Literacy
Vernacular-based bookkeeping tools and workshops on profit-loss tracking and working capital management.
Credit Linkage with SLICE
Design a 'Growth Loan' product for 161 women requiring expansion capital, leveraging baseline data for alternative credit scoring.
Market Linkage
Branding & packaging workshops; creation of a collective 'Kamrup Women's Brand'; buyer-seller meets with urban retailers.
Digital Empowerment
WhatsApp Business, social media marketing, and UPI adoption training to build digital financial footprints for future lending.
Scale & Replicate
Extend Udyamita Kendra model to additional clusters in the Sualkuchi weaving belt and replicate CERP model in new geographies.
Project Gallery
Photographs from field activities, training programmes, Kendra inaugurations, and community engagements across Rani Block and Sualkuchi.
Conclusion
Project Udyamita has successfully completed its pilot phase, demonstrating proof of concept for a community-embedded, evidence-driven model of women's entrepreneurship development in rural Assam. Within a lean two-month implementation window, the project has delivered tangible outcomes — two Udyamita Kendras equipped and operational, over 155 women trained in technical skills, a rigorous baseline dataset covering 312 RWEs, and institutional relationships between the community, CSDD, and Slice Small Finance Bank firmly established.
The baseline confirms this cohort is investment-ready: financially disciplined, skilled in production, and universally aspiring to grow. With continued investment, Project Udyamita has the potential to transform thousands of home-based micro-units into sustainable, bankable enterprises anchoring the rural economy of Kamrup and beyond.