NITI Aayog Grants ₹1.55 Crore to RISE Centre to Boost Women Entrepreneurship

New Delhi, March 23, 2026: NITI Aayog has sanctioned ₹1.55 crore to support the Rural Innovations, Incubation, Skilling and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Centre in Andhra Pradesh, aimed at strengthening skill development and promoting women-led enterprises.

The RISE Centre, established at Guntupalli in Ibrahimpatnam block, received the funding following a proposal submitted by the district administration. Announcing the development, NTR District Collector Dr. G. Lakshmisha said the initiative focuses on empowering rural women, particularly members of self-help groups, through structured skill development and livelihood opportunities.

The programme aligns with the state government’s vision of “one family-one entrepreneur” and seeks to build sustainable income sources for rural households. The allocated funds will be utilised for conducting AI-based skill surveys, organising training programmes, and enhancing infrastructure at the RISE Centre.

The centre provides integrated support through multiple service desks, including help, ideation, skilling, placement, and banking. It has already trained over 1,000 women across diverse skill areas such as artificial intelligence, spoken English, paper crafts, car driving, micro food processing, and solar panel installation.

In addition, participants have received exposure to digital commerce platforms and training in developing value-added products, enabling them to explore market-linked opportunities.

Officials noted that more than 300 families have already started small enterprises with support from the initiative, reflecting early outcomes in terms of livelihood generation. The programme also includes regular training sessions, field visits, and job fairs conducted in collaboration with partner institutions to strengthen employability and entrepreneurship.

The district administration has encouraged more individuals to leverage the RISE Centre’s services for self-employment and skill enhancement, highlighting its role as a hub for rural innovation and enterprise development.