Kolkata, 1st July: West Bengal’s rural entrepreneurship sector has never lacked ambition. Across the state, women-led Self-Help Groups have consistently shown the willingness to build and grow businesses. What has been missing is access to structured training and effective support by individuals who understand grassroots realities. IMI Kolkata, part of the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, has partnered with the West Bengal State Rural Livelihood Mission (WBSRLM) to launch an intensive capacity building programme placing professionally trained facilitators directly inside rural communities across the state.
The initiative is a deliberate choice by IMI Kolkata to direct management education towards rural livelihood economies, not just corporate boardrooms. The programme targets Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs), Community-Based Organisation representatives, and grassroots enterprise mentors. It covers 13 One Stop Facilitation Blocks spanning 8 districts of the state, under the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development, Government of West Bengal.
The 60-day residential programme at IMI Kolkata covers 44 topics across two modules, designed around the challenges rural entrepreneurs face at every stage. As rural commerce is changing fast, the curriculum prepares BDSPs to help entrepreneurs adapt. Participants gain hands-on exposure to platforms including ONDC, Amazon Karigar and Amazon Saheli, and IndiaMART for market access, alongside tools for digital bookkeeping, social media-led promotion, and artisan trade. AI-powered business planning tools, FSSAI food safety compliance, and MSME support frameworks are also woven into the curriculum.
The Foundation Module takes up the first 35 days, grounding participants in the fundamentals of rural enterprise like financial literacy, pricing, sales, marketing, and business planning. The Growth Module follows over the remaining 25 days, equipping participants with the strategic tools to help enterprises move beyond subsistence into expansion and scale. The programme follows a hands-on learning approach. Each session begins with a real-life video case study, followed by expert-led learning, and ends with group discussions, quizzes, and workbook activities. The programme culminates in a capstone project centred on a real business problem.
Upon completing the programme, BDSPs return to their respective districts and step directly into SHG networks. They will mentor rural women entrepreneurs, conduct business diagnostics, connect them to markets and digital commerce platforms, and support their transition from livelihood earners into growth-oriented entrepreneurs.
Dr. Mohua Banerjee, Director, IMI Kolkata, said, “IMI Kolkata has always believed that management education carries a responsibility beyond the classroom. This partnership with WBSRLM is an expression of that belief. By equipping BDSPs with the tools, frameworks, and digital capabilities they need, we are not just training individuals. We are building an ecosystem that will directly shape the economic futures of thousands of women entrepreneurs across rural West Bengal.”
The vision of the model being built goes beyond the present cohort. With trained facilitators working closely within SHG networks across districts, it has been designed to be replicated and scaled over time. The larger goal is to create a rural entrepreneurship ecosystem that generates livelihoods, strengthens local economies, and creates opportunities across West Bengal and beyond. Through initiatives such as these, IMI Kolkata continues to strengthen its position as an institution that combines academic excellence with policy engagement and industry collaboration to create lasting value for society and address pressing development challenges.
Leave a Reply