IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, TRLM Launch Women Entrepreneurs Incubator in Tripura

Agartala, April 16, 2026: IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), in partnership with Tripura Rural Livelihoods Mission (TRLM), has launched a Women Entrepreneurs Incubator Programme aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and supporting women-led enterprises across Tripura.

The programme, implemented under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), seeks to support at least 150 women-led enterprises over the next three years. The launch marks the transition from announcement to on-ground implementation, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year.

The initiative was formally launched with the unveiling of an application portal at a state-level workshop held at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala. The event was inaugurated by Abhishek Singh, Secretary, Rural Development Department, Government of Tripura, in the presence of senior officials, programme stakeholders, and Self-Help Group (SHG) members.

The incubator programme aims to identify and nurture growth-oriented women-led microenterprises in both manufacturing and service sectors across all districts of Tripura. It is designed to drive at least 15% year-on-year revenue growth, create local employment, and build scalable business models.

Speaking at the launch, Abhishek Singh said, “The Government of Tripura firmly believes that empowered women are the foundation of resilient rural economies. Through this collaboration with IIMCIP, women entrepreneurs will gain access to institutional knowledge, structured mentorship, and focused capital support—tools they have long needed to thrive in the formal business landscape. This initiative will also lay the groundwork for a replicable model of rural entrepreneurship across Tripura.”

Under the partnership, IIMCIP will provide end-to-end incubation support, including statewide outreach, a Challenge Fund offering up to 75% of enterprise funding needs, and structured training programmes. The initiative also includes 64 hours of business and technical training, mentorship support over 18 months, and assistance with market linkages, branding, financial access, and enterprise formalisation.

Commenting on the collaboration, V K Rai said, “This partnership with TRLM is yet another opportunity for IIMCIP to deliver the benefits of world-class incubation directly into the hands of rural women entrepreneurs. This aligns with our commitment towards strengthening both women entrepreneurship in India and our indigenous capability. We look forward to working with Tripura’s SHG ecosystem to nurture women-owned and led enterprises with the skills, networks, and confidence to grow sustainable and scalable businesses that will uplift their families and communities for generations to come.”

The programme also aims to develop replicable enterprise models and knowledge assets that can be scaled across other states under the NRLM framework, reinforcing its long-term impact on rural entrepreneurship.