Sambalpur, Jan 19: IIM Sambalpur, one of India’s premier management institutions, hosted the 6-day Business Accelerator Program for SC-ST entrepreneurs in collaboration with the National SC-ST Hub, Ministry of MSME, GOI, from 19th to 24th January, 2026. The objective of this programme is to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem by building capacity and upskilling SC-ST entrepreneurs with essential business, financial, and digital skills, in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The event was graced by Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, Sambit Tripathy, CMD, Livelihood Alternatives, as the Chief Guest, Dr. Anupam Gayen, Zonal Head, NSIC, as the Guest of Honour, Nibedita Nayak, Former Chairperson, Odisha State Social Welfare Board, as the Keynote Speaker.

The programme consists of 12 days of training, including 6 days of on-campus sessions at IIM Sambalpur and 6 days of online learning, followed by 6 months of handholding support for participating entrepreneurs. The first cohort of the Business Accelerator Programme included 25 participants from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The second cohort of the Business Accelerator Program will commence in February 2026, offering a 72-hour hybrid learning experience through virtual weekend sessions and a 6-day on-campus module at IIM Sambalpur.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, “IIM Sambalpur’s vision is to nurture responsible leaders with an entrepreneurial mind-set. Entrepreneurship is not just about creating wealth for oneself; it is about creating value for society, the nation, and the planet. India’s vision of Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved by building only large corporations; we must nurture responsible entrepreneurs at the grassroots who innovate without harming the environment or displacing communities. Aligned with National Education Policy 2020, entrepreneurship must focus on knowledge creation, innovation, and responsible wealth generation through modern technology.”

Addressing the gathering the Chief Guest, Sambit Tripathy, CMD, Livelihood Alternatives, added, “Developing robust business plans, refining ideas, and building capacity, along with understanding the fundamentals of what we produce, consume, and how we communicate, are essential to excel in entrepreneurship.”

The Guest of Honour, Nibedita Nayak, Former Chairperson, Odisha State Social Welfare Board, highlighted, “IIM Sambalpur stands at the confluence of knowledge, aspiration, and nation-building, and I congratulate IIM Sambalpur for introducing a programme that is not merely an academic initiative but a national milestone. Today, SC-ST entrepreneurship matters more than ever because inclusive growth is no longer a choice; it is an economic necessity.”

Through this initiative, IIM Sambalpur once again highlighted its commitment to fostering inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship by supporting SC-ST entrepreneurs in scaling their ventures, generating local employment, and contributing to India’s grassroots economic development.