IMFA Launches Sakhi Seed Initiative to Support Rural Women Entrepreneurs Excluded from Formal Finance

Bhubaneswar, 23 June 2026: Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd. (IMFA), through its CSR arm, Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF), has announced the launch of the Sakhi Seed Initiative — a catalytic grant and mentorship programme aimed at rural and nano women entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional financing despite demonstrating viable business potential.

Under the programme, ten women entrepreneurs will each receive a grant of ₹5 lakh along with structured business mentorship from XIM Bhubaneswar to help them build and scale sustainable enterprises. The initiative is designed around the concept of catalytic capital — patient, risk-tolerant funding extended at the earliest and most vulnerable stage of an entrepreneur's journey.

The programme specifically targets women who operate outside the formal financial system and are typically ineligible for institutional credit due to the absence of collateral, documented credit histories or formal registrations, despite running businesses that support their families and communities.

Shaifalika Panda, Founder & CEO, Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation, said: "The programme seeks to build evidence that women who do not currently qualify for formal credit can establish sustainable, growth-oriented businesses when provided with the right combination of capital, mentorship and ecosystem support. Sakhi Seed Initiative has a broader ambition — to create a proof of concept that can influence entrepreneurial finance in India to look beyond collateral and extensive credit history."

The initiative is guided by an Advisory Board that includes Ajaita Shah, Founder and CEO of Frontier Markets and President of Frontier Innovations Foundation; Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder of Mann Deshi Foundation; Neha Juneja, Co-founder and CEO of IndiaP2P; and Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC TV18.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Future. Female. Forward (FFF) platform, and XIM University will serve as the knowledge and business school partner, providing coaching and capacity-building support in enterprise planning, financial management, marketing and market linkages.

Applications for the inaugural cohort are open until 20 July 2026.