JAMMU, Jul 13: Fostering rural prosperity has always been at the heart of NABARD’s vision and developmental mandate. On NABARD’s 45th Foundation Day, Gramodyam, a transformative Entrepreneurship Development Programme designed to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of rural India has been launched by Dr. Shaji K V, Chairman, NABARD. This initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), marking a significant step towards building a vibrant ecosystem for rural entrepreneurship. The initiative will be implemented through Institute for Industrial Development (IID).
Gramodyam is dedicated to the youth of rural India. The programme seeks to identify, nurture, mentor and empower aspiring entrepreneurs by equipping them with industry-relevant skills, entrepreneurial competencies and access to essential support systems. By enabling young innovators to convert ideas into viable enterprises, Gramodyam aims to transform local opportunities into engines of sustainable economic growth and employment generation.
The programme adopts a digital-first, hybrid delivery model to ensure equitable outreach across all States and Union Territories. Through a combination of digital platforms, social media engagement, community outreach and on-ground mobilization, aspiring entrepreneurs will be enrolled and guided through a structured entrepreneurial journey. This journey will include psychometric assessments, counselling, Entrepreneurship Development training, industry/ trade specific training, mentoring and enterprise establishment support, ensuring that participants receive comprehensive guidance from ideation to enterprise creation.
Going beyond conventional skill development, Gramodyam offers an integrated support framework encompassing business opportunity identification, business planning, enterprise management training, credit facilitation, market linkages, mentorship and post-establishment handholding. The programme is designed not only to create self-employment opportunities but also to catalyse local job creation and community development through sustainable enterprise growth, contributing to inclusive and resilient rural economic growth.
A key feature of Gramodyam is its end-to-end credit facilitation framework. Participants will receive expert support in preparing bankable Detailed Project Reports, establishing linkages with NABARD-supported Regional Rural Banks, and other financial institutions for credit support. The programme will provide digital loan application assistance and guidance on relevant government schemes and incentives, thereby improving access to formal finance and reducing barriers to enterprise creation.