Hon’ble CM Unveils ‘Sampannakaari’ Initiative of IIM Visakhapatnam and SERP for SHG Women-Led Enterprises
The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam (IIMV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 8, 2026, in the presence of the Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, marking a significant step towards strengthening the Self-Help Group (SHG) ecosystem in the state.
The collaboration aims to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of women SHG members across Andhra Pradesh through structured capacity-building programs focused on entrepreneurship development, branding, marketing, and enterprise management. The initiative seeks to empower rural women entrepreneurs and support them in transforming their micro-enterprises into sustainable and scalable businesses.
A key highlight of this collaboration is the incubation of Top 150 women-led SHG enterprises under a specialised program jointly implemented by AP SERP and IIM Visakhapatnam. This initiative is supported by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, and is designed to help rural enterprises scale their businesses through structured mentorship, bootcamps, workshops, expert guidance, and market linkages.
During the event, the Honourable Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu formally launched the poster for the “Call for Applications” for the incubation program, inviting women entrepreneurs from SHG networks across the state to participate in this transformative initiative.
Selected entrepreneurs will undergo a minimum incubation period of 18 months at IIMV FIELD, the incubation and startup hub of IIM Visakhapatnam. Through this program, participants will receive comprehensive support, including business mentoring, market access facilitation, capacity-building workshops, and enterprise scaling strategies.
As part of the initiative titled “Sampannakaari,” a total financial support of ₹6.33 crore will be extended to the 150 enterprises in the form of 0% interest soft loans or grants, enabling them to strengthen operations, expand production, and access new markets. To know more details about the program, visit iimvfield.com/sampannakaari/
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Karuna, IAS, CEO of AP SERP, emphasised the importance of empowering rural women entrepreneurs and building sustainable enterprises within the SHG ecosystem. She highlighted that the partnership with IIM Visakhapatnam will provide women entrepreneurs access to world-class mentoring and entrepreneurial training.
Prof. M. Shameem Jawed, Associate Professor at IIM Visakhapatnam and Director Operations & CEO at IIMV FIELD, who attended the program, noted that the collaboration reflects IIMV’s commitment to supporting grassroots entrepreneurship and fostering inclusive economic growth through knowledge, innovation, and capacity building. And he also stated that the partnership is expected to significantly strengthen the SHG enterprise ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, creating new opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs and contributing to the state’s vision of “One Family One Entrepreneur”
The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam (IIMV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 8, 2026, in the presence of the Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, marking a significant step towards strengthening the Self-Help Group (SHG) ecosystem in the state.
The collaboration aims to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of women SHG members across Andhra Pradesh through structured capacity-building programs focused on entrepreneurship development, branding, marketing, and enterprise management. The initiative seeks to empower rural women entrepreneurs and support them in transforming their micro-enterprises into sustainable and scalable businesses.
A key highlight of this collaboration is the incubation of Top 150 women-led SHG enterprises under a specialised program jointly implemented by AP SERP and IIM Visakhapatnam. This initiative is supported by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, and is designed to help rural enterprises scale their businesses through structured mentorship, bootcamps, workshops, expert guidance, and market linkages.
During the event, the Honourable Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu formally launched the poster for the “Call for Applications” for the incubation program, inviting women entrepreneurs from SHG networks across the state to participate in this transformative initiative.
Selected entrepreneurs will undergo a minimum incubation period of 18 months at IIMV FIELD, the incubation and startup hub of IIM Visakhapatnam. Through this program, participants will receive comprehensive support, including business mentoring, market access facilitation, capacity-building workshops, and enterprise scaling strategies.
As part of the initiative titled “Sampannakaari,” a total financial support of ₹6.33 crore will be extended to the 150 enterprises in the form of 0% interest soft loans or grants, enabling them to strengthen operations, expand production, and access new markets. To know more details about the program, visit iimvfield.com/sampannakaari/
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Karuna, IAS, CEO of AP SERP, emphasised the importance of empowering rural women entrepreneurs and building sustainable enterprises within the SHG ecosystem. She highlighted that the partnership with IIM Visakhapatnam will provide women entrepreneurs access to world-class mentoring and entrepreneurial training.
Prof. M. Shameem Jawed, Associate Professor at IIM Visakhapatnam and Director Operations & CEO at IIMV FIELD, who attended the program, noted that the collaboration reflects IIMV’s commitment to supporting grassroots entrepreneurship and fostering inclusive economic growth through knowledge, innovation, and capacity building. And he also stated that the partnership is expected to significantly strengthen the SHG enterprise ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, creating new opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs and contributing to the state’s vision of “One Family One Entrepreneur”
