NEW DELHI: NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society and the Department of Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand, organised a workshop in Ranchi aimed at promoting sustainable enterprise development to strengthen tribal and rural livelihoods in the state.
Addressing the workshop, Prof Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog, emphasised the importance of enterprise-led growth and the need to empower rural and tribal communities to become job creators rather than job seekers.
He highlighted the role of local enterprises in driving inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Shri Ananya Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, JSLPS, underlined the significance of women-led livelihood initiatives, noting their impact on household income, social empowerment and community resilience. Shri Surendra Mehra, Programme Director (Rural Development and Panchayati Raj), NITI Aayog, stressed the adoption of best practices and the importance of convergence among government schemes to maximise livelihood outcomes.
Shri K Srinivasan, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Jharkhand, focused on enabling factors such as land use planning, access to institutional finance, market linkages, and promotion of Non-Timber Forest Produce-based livelihoods to enhance income opportunities for tribal communities.
The workshop also featured an exhibition with 22 stalls, showcasing community-led innovations, skill-based enterprises, and market-linked livelihood models rooted in local resources and traditional knowledge.
Panel discussions during the event explored emerging enterprise opportunities in rural and tribal Jharkhand and highlighted the need for a convergent ecosystem involving government, academia, industry and civil society to support sustainable livelihood development.
The workshop reaffirmed NITI Aayog’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth through locally driven enterprise models that strengthen rural and tribal economies.