Rural women entrepreneurs gain biz skills at Shoolini varsity
In a bid to empower rural women entrepreneurs and help them establish their own business ventures, the PRAGATI Rural Women Entrepreneurs Development Programme at Shoolini University witnessed enthusiastic participation. The women attended their second monthly campus visit following the programme’s launch on January 28, engaging in hands-on training and interactive sessions designed to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.
The initiative, led by Payal Jindal Khanna, Deputy Head of the Centre for Leadership Coaching, and supported by Vice-Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla, is committed to equipping rural women with essential business acumen and coaching. The MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, under the guidance of Dean Dr Somesh Sharma and Devanshi Pandit, provided detailed training on mushroom cultivation, helping participants understand sustainable farming techniques. Simultaneously, the School of Bioengineering and Food Technology, led by Dean Dr Dinesh Kumar, introduced the women to food processing techniques. Narendra, a faculty expert, conducted a workshop on preparing pickles, juices, and purées, giving the women valuable knowledge on value-added food production.
For those interested in candle-making, an interactive session was conducted by Kritika Sharma, a faculty member and entrepreneur, who shared her expertise in the craft. This training broadened the participants’ scope for small business ventures.
A special highlight of the event was an interaction with Dr Sunil Rai, Chancellor of UPES Dehradun, introduced to the participants by Prof Atul Khosla. Dr Rai encouraged the women and pledged his support for the PRAGATI initiative, affirming, “Success is the only option for this project.” Echoing his words, Dr Khosla reassured the participants that Shoolini University would continue to support them through its business incubator programmes, helping them transition into successful entrepreneurs.
Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity, Payal Jindal Khanna, along with two student mentors, personally visited Chhamrog village to meet with a participant who was unable to attend the session, ensuring that no one missed out on learning opportunities.
