A one-day programme promoting women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship, enterprise development and market linkages was held in Khonsa, Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh, on Friday in collaboration with the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM). Organised by the DBT-APSCS&T Centre of Excellence for Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Kimin, the programme focused on building the capacity of rural women to process and add value to millet and other underutilised crops through technology adoption and awareness. Speaking at the event, ZPM Dadam block Chasom Hakhun encouraged women to become self-reliant by developing their skills, establishing enterprises and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. Assistant Commissioner Khonsa Anya Yowa stressed that women’s empowerment goes beyond education, saying financial independence and economic self-reliance are equally important for women’s progress and their contribution to families and society. Technical expert Kaushik Khanikar highlighted the importance of effective marketing and urged women entrepreneurs to showcase the uniqueness, effort and stories behind their products. He also encouraged self-help groups to work with the Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Investment Policy and Promotion (APIIP) initiative to establish and strengthen their enterprises. Entrepreneur Chalang Hakhun shared her experience of starting a pickle business from her kitchen with limited resources and explained how subsidy support through APIIP helped her expand the venture. The programme, supported by the Science for Equality Empowerment and Development (SEED) division of the Department of Science and Technology, also emphasised technology adoption, value addition and nutritional security. Officials said continued collaboration with SHGs is vital to strengthening women-led enterprises and creating sustainable rural livelihoods. The initiative highlights the growing importance of entrepreneurship, market access and financial independence in enabling rural women to become economically empowered and contribute more actively to local development.
