CSVTU distributes Millet Health Carts to 72 women’s SHGs and ₹50 lakh in ignition grants to 24 startups
TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 10, 2026: Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekananda Technical University (CSVTU), Bhilai, organized a Women Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Startup Felicitation Programme at the Bhilai Institute of Technology (BIT), Durg, with a focus on promoting women’s self-reliance, entrepreneurship and innovation among youth.
Governor and Chancellor of CSVTU Ramen Deka, who attended the programme as the chief guest, distributed Millet Health Carts to 72 women’s self-help groups (SHGs) and ignition grants totalling ₹50 lakh to 24 innovation-based startups.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Deka said a new Chhattisgarh could be built through the combined strength of women and youth. He said the programme marked two important initiatives — creating new avenues of economic self-reliance for rural women and encouraging young innovators to transform their ideas into viable enterprises.
The Governor emphasized that higher education and technical knowledge acquire greater significance when they are connected with society’s needs and create opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. He said millet-based enterprises were opening a new avenue for women’s economic empowerment while promoting nutritional security.
Millets, traditionally known as ‘Shree Anna’, have deep roots in Chhattisgarh’s agricultural heritage. The Governor said they were now emerging not only as a source of nutrition but also as an important source of income for farmers, rural households and women entrepreneurs.
The women’s groups receiving Millet Health Carts will also receive training in product preparation, FSSAI standards, quality control, business management and marketing. The objective is to help transform these SHGs into sustainable business enterprises with better access to consumers and markets.
“When a woman becomes self-reliant, the family becomes stronger and confidence spreads throughout the community,” the Governor said, underlining the wider social and economic impact of women-led enterprises.
Highlighting the startup component of the programme, Deka said 24 innovation-based startups were being supported through ignition grants worth ₹50 lakh. He encouraged young entrepreneurs to view setbacks as part of the innovation journey and learn from challenges while continuing to pursue their ideas.
He also appreciated the efforts of women’s SHGs in revitalizing economic activity in rural areas and stressed the need to combine their traditional skills with modern training, technology, branding and market access.
The Governor commended CSVTU for extending its technical knowledge and institutional resources to rural communities and marginalized sections. He expressed confidence that CSVTU-FORTE (Foundation for Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship) would emerge as a strong centre for rural entrepreneurship, women’s self-reliance and technological innovation.
MP Vijay Baghel said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given renewed recognition to millets by promoting ‘Shree Anna’ and linking it with wider economic and cooperative initiatives. He noted that 2023 was observed as the International Year of Millets following the Prime Minister’s initiative and stressed the need to take millet-based food products to a wider market through women’s groups and technical support.
Durg Rural MLA Lalit Chandrakar said women were becoming increasingly empowered and economically independent through SHGs, while startup initiatives were giving confidence to young people to pursue entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
Vaishali Nagar MLA Rikesh Sen described the startup initiative as an important pillar of Chhattisgarh’s development. Durg Mayor Alka Baghmar and Sahakar Bharati representative Kaliram Sharma also addressed the gathering.
At the beginning of the programme, CSVTU Vice-Chancellor Dr Arun Arora delivered the welcome address and outlined the objectives of the initiative, focusing on women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship development and youth innovation.
The programme was attended by former Assembly Speaker Premprakash Pandey, Durg Rural MLA Lalit Chandrakar, Vaishali Nagar MLA Rikesh Sen, Durg Mayor Alka Baghmar, representatives of Sahakar Bharati, professors from affiliated colleges, prominent citizens, women members of self-help groups and a large number of young people.
