The Government of India recently announced a nationwide drive to provide free Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to 10 lakh citizens, with a dedicated focus on village-level entrepreneurs. This ambitious initiative is being rolled out through the network of Common Services Centres (CSCs), which play a crucial role in delivering digital services across rural India.

Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, revealed details of the plan during the 10th anniversary of the Digital India programme and the 16th foundation day of the CSC network. The new programme aims to equip ordinary citizens, especially those from rural and remote areas, with cutting-edge skills that are now shaping the world of technology and employment.

In a significant move to empower the youth and promote self-reliance, the Yogi Adityanath-led government has transformed Uttar Pradesh into a model of entrepreneurship through its flagship Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas (MYUVA) Abhiyan. The initiative is being hailed as a national benchmark for enabling young individuals to become self-employed and build their own businesses.

Under the scheme, the government is not only encouraging entrepreneurship among the youth but also supporting them by offering interest-free, collateral-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh. This financial support is helping young entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality without the burden of traditional lending constraints. So far, over 53,000 loan applications have been approved, and nearly 40,000 youth have already received disbursements to launch their ventures. These micro and small enterprises are paving the way for economic self-sufficiency and job creation across the state.

Government schemes for entrepreneurs

Central government schemes are also significantly boosting rural entrepreneurship. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) provides collateral-free loans to small businesses and non-corporate enterprises. Stand-Up India Scheme offers loans to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs for setting up greenfield enterprises. National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) provides interest-free loans and mentorship to rural startups and self-employed youth.

How CSR initiatives support entrepreneurs in India

Major problems faced by rural entrepreneurs in India include a severe lack of access to finance, inadequate infrastructure like roads and electricity, limited market access, a shortage of skilled talent and training, intense competition, difficulty in obtaining government support and complying with legal formalities, and the exploitation by middlemen.

CSR initiatives are significantly boosting entrepreneurship in India, particularly among women and rural communities. Several CSR initiatives are supporting rural entrepreneurs in India, focusing on empowering women, promoting sustainable agriculture, and providing access to finance and markets.

For example, She Leads Bharat – Udyam, Mastercard’s CSR initiative, in partnership with Frontier Markets and Airtel Payments Bank, has empowered over 100,000 women entrepreneurs across India, aiming to reach one million by 2030. This programme provides essential products, services, and financial tools to women entrepreneurs. Women participating in the program have seen a threefold increase in income over six months, with average monthly earnings of Rs 1,300 through sales on the Meri Saheli platform.

‘Digital Saksham’ empowers over 300,000 Indian small businesses with digital transformation

Digital Saksham, a Mastercard Strive programme implemented by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has reached 304,623 enterprises nationwide, enabling 51,455 businesses to adopt digital technologies. Supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard Strive is a global program focused on enabling small businesses to thrive in the digital economy.

Designed to help small businesses overcome barriers to technology adoption, the programme has equipped entrepreneurs with essential skills and tools to improve efficiency, expand market access and build long-term resilience. While CII has led industry outreach, the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth, through Mastercard Strive, has anchored the initiative as part of its commitment to advancing inclusive economic growth in the country.

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages signs MoU with Government of Telangana to empower women entrepreneurs

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Department of Rural Development, Government of Telangana, to expand the reach and enhance the impact of Mahila Shakti Canteens, an initiative of the state government that promotes women’s economic empowerment through self-help groups (SHGs).

Under the MoU, HCCB will plan, co-design, and execute relevant CSR initiatives in Mahila Shakti Canteens through training Self-Help Groups in collaboration with relevant and experienced Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and implementation partners. HCCB will focus on capacity building for women entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on financial and digital literacy, sales, marketing and retail management.

The programme aims to cover 100 Mahila Shakti Canteens and train over 1,000 women entrepreneurs associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Telangana. SERP, Government of Telangana will facilitate alignment with district development plans, and schemes pertaining to Mahila Shakti Canteens, and enable convergence with state and central government programs. It will further support in beneficiary selection, stakeholder coordination, and community mobilization.

CSR of NSE to empower women entrepreneurs and skill students in Telangana

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the WE HUB Foundation, Women Entrepreneurs HUB Foundation, an initiative of the Government of Telangana have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Financial Literacy through Investor Awareness Programs (IAPs), spread awareness amongst Women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for fund raising via IPO mechanism using NSE Emerge Platform – EMERGE  and to implement the Student Skilling Program in the BFSI Sector across the state of Telangana, to empower women and women-led enterprises.

As part of the understanding, NSE in collaboration with WE HUB Foundation, a Section 8 non-profit company under the Government of Telangana, shall conduct awareness drive through seminars, camps, knowledge sessions, road shows, workshops to spread financial literacy and investor awareness. It also aims to guide women-led MSME for fund raising on the NSE Emerge platform and handhold companies in the listing process. This MoU also aims to empower the women with industry-relevant skills and enhance their employability in the BFSI sector.

Nasscom Foundation and HSBC to empower 4000 women entrepreneurs with digital skills

With an aim to empower rural women entrepreneurs in the digital economy, Nasscom Foundation has collaborated with HSBC, India to train 4000 women entrepreneurs in Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The programme “Upskilling Women Entrepreneurs and Enhancing their Participation in The Digital Economy”, will see participants receiving end to end interventions focused on intensive digital and financial literacy, entrepreneurship development, business and e-governance application through handholding support and on-boarding on several social media platforms.

Limited digital and financial literacy hinder rural women entrepreneurs’ ability to utilise digital tools and access e-commerce platforms to grow their business. Women owned rural enterprises give employment to 22-27 million people. However, women entrepreneurs face barriers in accessing formal credit, lack tailored policy support for mid-scale growth, and miss critical business development services like marketing, technology, and advisory. This initiative aims at empowering women economically, improving their livelihoods and enhance resilience by identifying, skilling and promoting technological solutions that drives women’s economic empowerment.

Salaam Bombay Foundation’s Dolphin Tanki 4.0 Empowers Young Entrepreneurs

Dolphin Tanki 4.0, an initiative by Salaam Bombay Foundation, is proving that young grassroots entrepreneurs from under-resourced communities, both urban and rural, are just as capable of building sustainable businesses when given the right tools, mentorship, and funding. Since its inception, Salaam Bombay Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Incubator has helped launch over 550 businesses, 70% of which are led by women.

Now in its fourth year, Dolphin Tanki is a seed-funding platform designed exclusively for entrepreneurs from Salaam Bombay Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Incubator. These young entrepreneurs presented their business pitches to a panel of business leaders and industry experts, competing for seed capital to turn small-scale businesses into scalable ventures.

SBI Foundation and NSRCEL empowering entrepreneurs in underserved regions

SBI Foundation and NSRCEL IIM Bangalore have launched the ‘Incubating Incubators Initiative (i-Cube)’, a novel initiative designed to foster entrepreneurial ecosystems in India’s underserved regions. The initiative is housed under the ‘Innovators for Bharat’ program at SBI Foundation and under the ‘Ecosystem Capacity Building Initiative’ at NSRCEL.

This initiative aims to establish and enhance incubation centres in historically underrepresented regions, including the northeast and hill states, delivering localized and capacity building expertise, and resources. The initiative is designed to provide comprehensive resources, mentorship, and strategic guidance to existing incubators and accelerators, helping them scale, refine their services, and strengthen their impact on the startup ecosystem.

By collaborating with state missions, educational institutions, knowledge partners, business veterans, and government bodies, the initiative will empower entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women and youth, in areas where opportunities have historically been limited.

The initiative will initially focus on establishing and strengthening incubation centres in underserved regions like the northeast, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and others.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share