IIM Kozhikode launches ‘Uyare’ project to support women entrepreneurs

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode has launched the Uyare project to support women entrepreneurs linked to the Kudumbashree network, focusing on strengthening grassroots enterprises through structured training and research.

The initiative, inaugurated on April 27 at the Migration Support Centre in Kozhikode, is designed to enhance business and managerial capabilities among women in rural and semi-urban areas. Kudumbashree, a state-backed community network established in 1997, covers more than 48 lakh women across Kerala.

According to the institute, the project will also study gaps in training and identify long-term support mechanisms required for small-scale enterprises to grow sustainably.

As part of the rollout, nearly 700 women entrepreneurs will be trained across 40 Gram Panchayats in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts between April and June 2026.

The sessions will be conducted locally at the Panchayat level to improve access and participation, with each training program spanning two days.

The program will be implemented by the Entrepreneurship Development Society, which has worked with the IIM Kozhikode research team to train facilitators.

The curriculum focuses on practical learning and includes modules on business planning, working capital management, market access, credit linkages, digital marketing, and legal compliance.

Participants will receive training kits with activity-based exercises and reference material aimed at helping them apply concepts to their own enterprises and improve operations.

The initiative is supported by the Manappuram Foundation and coordinated with the District Collector’s Office, the Kudumbashree District Mission, and the District Industries Centre.

IIM Kozhikode said the project is expected to strengthen business practices, improve access to formal finance, and increase participation of women entrepreneurs in digital marketplaces.