Swavalambane programme empowers rural women entrepreneurs in Karnataka

Shobharani's homemade papad business thrived with Swavalambane program support, inspiring other women entrepreneurs in Karnataka.

Shobharani, a resident of H. Basavanahalli village in Madhugiri taluk, Tumakuru district, launched a business venture called P.R.K. Products, dedicated to producing homemade papads. Inspired by her mother’s culinary skills and driven by her own passion for cooking, Shobharani’s business gradually grew through word-of-mouth, achieving an annual turnover of ₹5.76 lakh.

She then applied for and was selected for the Swavalambane programme, a collaborative initiative between the NSRCEL (start-up incubator) of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) and Sanjeevini – Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Promotion Society.

Through the programme, Shobharani secured a grant of ₹10 lakh. The fund enabled her to purchase essential machinery and a solar drying unit, ensuring consistent production even during the rainy season. With further support from the programme in areas such as marketing and financial management, she significantly expanded her business, achieving an annual turnover of ₹14 lakh, a 143% increase from her initial earnings. “Swavalambane helped me transform my small home-based business into a thriving enterprise,” she said.

Like Shobharani, 150 rural self-help group (SHG) women entrepreneurs from Karnataka participated in the first cohort of the Swavalambane programme, which ran from June 2022 to December 2024. The programme aimed to assist women-led, non-farm enterprises, primarily from tier 2 and tier 3 cities, in developing sustainable business models, increasing their revenues by at least 15%, and creating local employment opportunities. It also sought to formalise these businesses into legal entities with structured business models and improve their creditworthiness.

“Today, my operations are both efficient and in line with industry standards,” said Priya Prakash Shet from Uttara Kannada district, who produces pineapple and kokum syrups under her enterprise, Ainkai Malnad Products and was also a participant in the programme.

Out of 40,138 women entrepreneurs who applied for the programme, 150 were selected after rigorous evaluation across various parameters. This cohort comprised entrepreneurs from 26 districts across the State, representing 12 business sectors. The food and food products sector had the highest representation (54 entrepreneurs), followed by plate making and tailoring (17) and handicrafts (13).

One such entrepreneur is Roopa Gajendra Kolekar, from Uttara Kannada district. She runs Amba Oil Mill, which specialises in the production of cold-pressed oils, including coconut and castor oil. Initially facing challenges in reaching customers and effectively marketing her products, Roopa received a soft loan of ₹3 lakh and valuable mentorship from the Swavalambane programme. This support enabled her to scale up her venture, doubling her annual turnover from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh with a profit of ₹7 lakh.