IMI Kolkata has partnered with the West Bengal State Rural Livelihood Mission (WBSRLM) to launch a 60-day residential training programme for grassroots enterprise mentors who will support women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across West Bengal.

The initiative will train Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs), Community-Based Organisation representatives and grassroots enterprise mentors working across 13 One Stop Facilitation Blocks in eight districts under the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development.

The programme covers business planning, financial literacy, pricing, sales, marketing and enterprise management. Participants will also receive training on digital commerce platforms, including ONDC, Amazon Karigar, Amazon Saheli and IndiaMART, alongside digital bookkeeping, social media promotion, FSSAI compliance and government schemes for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The 60-day course is divided into two phases. A 35-day Foundation Module introduces core business concepts, followed by a 25-day Growth Module focused on enterprise expansion. Training includes case studies, classroom sessions, group discussions, quizzes and workbook-based exercises. Participants will complete a capstone project based on a real business challenge.

After completing the programme, BDSPs will return to their districts to work with SHGs by assessing businesses, advising entrepreneurs, facilitating access to markets and digital commerce platforms, and supporting business growth.

Dr. Mohua Banerjee, Director of IMI Kolkata, said the partnership aims to equip grassroots enterprise mentors with business and digital skills needed to support rural entrepreneurs.

"Our objective is to prepare BDSPs with practical tools and knowledge that can be applied directly within rural communities," she said.

According to IMI Kolkata, the programme is intended to create a pool of trained facilitators who can support women-led enterprises across the state. The institute said the model is expected to be expanded in the future as part of efforts to improve rural entrepreneurship and livelihoods through collaboration between educational institutions and government agencies.