Govt of Karnataka inks MoU with IIMB to train SC/ST women graduates in Entrepreneurship
CM Basavaraj Bommai shares message; Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary and IIMB Director Rishikesha T Krishnan address participants at the launch at IIMB
22 AUGUST 2022: The Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Scheduled Tribes Welfare, Government of Karnataka, in association with Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, launched a training program, this morning, to support SC/ST women graduates in developing their skills as entrepreneurs.
The program was launched, at IIM Bangalore, in the presence of IIMB Director Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan; Shri Kota Srinivas Poojary, Minister for Social Welfare and Backward Classes; Capt. P. Manivannan (IAS), Secretary to the Govt of Karnataka; Dr. E. Venkataiah (IAS-Rtd.), Advisor, SCSP/TSP Nodal Agency, Social Welfare Department; Dr. Ganesh Prabhu, Professor of Strategy and Program Director, IIMB; Prof. G Shainesh, Chairperson, Executive Education Programmes, IIMB; faculty of IIMB and senior members of the Executive Education Programmes Office at IIM Bangalore.
An MoU to this effect was exchanged between Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, and Minister Shri Kota Srinivas Poojary after which Prof. G Shainesh presented an overview of the Executive Education Programmes at IIM Bangalore.
CM’s message
In his message, which was read out by Rakesh Kumar, Commissioner of the Department of Social Welfare, GoK, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri Basavaraj Bommai, said: “Women are the most valuable human resources of the nation. Karnataka is a state that has been known to be the home of innumerable women achievers. Our government has unlimited faith in woman power. Every woman in the state should be economically empowered. Our aim is to encourage women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and vulnerable groups to participate in economic activity and growth. Accordingly, in the budget of 2022-23, we made provision for a program that will help 300 women graduates from these sections to avail of entrepreneurship training at IIM Bangalore.”
Adding that it was a pleasure to partner with the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Bangalore for the Entrepreneurship Training Program, Shri Bommai said the premier institute would ensure that the participants receive excellent training and mentoring. “I encourage all the participants here to take advantage of this program, build capacity and become successful entrepreneurs. You should not only become self-sufficient, but also inspire others to take up entrepreneurship. Become an employer of many. I wish you all good luck,” he said.
IIMB Director’s address
Welcoming participants to the program, IIMB Director Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, described the Institute’s long and deep engagement with delivering Entrepreneurial Learning programs be it the Goldman Sachs 10K Program, the Women Start-up Program supported by Kotak Bank, the program designed for the National Commission for Women, and more. He urged the participants of the GoK program to be diligent students and avail of all the opportunities, from networking to peer learning, while at IIM Bangalore.
Capt. P. Manivannan (IAS) urged the participants to build confidence, knowledge and networks while Dr. E. Venkataiah (IAS-Rtd.) listed the resources available, from incentives to subsidies to finance, for MSMEs. “Read the industrial policy of the State carefully,” he said.
This program, delivered under the umbrella of IIMB’s Executive Education Programs, enables aspiring women entrepreneurs to take their idea and transform it into a business venture. It provides an opportunity for personal and professional development focusing on acquisition of management practices, navigation of growth opportunities, development of effective leadership skills and support through formal mentoring on the business idea and peer networking.
Rooting for women’s empowerment, says Minister Poojary
“Many families lost their breadwinners because of COVID-19. Many people, especially in the informal economy, lost their jobs. Women were badly affected. The Government of Karnataka has launched the Entrepreneurship training program to equip such women with skills that can make them self-reliant. A total of 300 aspiring women entrepreneurs, belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, will be trained,” said Shri Kota Srinivas Poojary.
Observing that educated and empowered women provide improved growth and stability, the Minister for Social Welfare and Backward Classes said: “When women start ventures, they not only become self-reliant, they also create employment opportunities for many. The success of ventures led by women has encouraged. women from all sections of society to set up their own ventures. This, I am sure, will create more jobs, address gender discrimination in the workplace, and promote entrepreneurship development and skill upgradation among women. This is an important project for our government. We aspire to give society successful women entrepreneurs by nurturing their confidence and equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to develop their business ideas.”
Noting that IIMB is one of the most prestigious institutions in Asia which ranks among the top 50 institutes of management education in the world, he said: “It is our pride and joy to partner with IIMB to provide training to SC/ST women graduates in Karnataka. We aim to encourage skilled and unskilled women to start their own small or medium scale business ventures. I wish all the participants all the very best. I hope they make excellent use of the opportunity which they have got.”
Hybrid learning model
In his overview, Professor Ganesh Prabhu, Programme Director explained that the program, delivered in a blended and phased manner, would combine instructor-led sessions and self-paced virtual learning by participants. “The participants will work on evolving a business plan and they will be mentored. They will present their business plan to the cohort and the mentors in the concluding module,” he said.
Ms Shambhavi Rao, Senior Manager, Executive Education Programmes at IIMB, proposed the vote of thanks.
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