Chancellor and Governor Shri Ramen Deka attended as the chief guest.

New Chhattisgarh will be created with women power and youth innovation - Governor Shri Ramen Deka

Raipur, September 2026/ Chhattisgarh University of Technology (CSVTU) Bhilai organized the "Women Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Startup Felicitation Program" at the Bhilai Institute of Technology (BIT), Durg campus to promote women empowerment, self-employment, entrepreneurship, and startup culture. Chancellor and State Governor Ramen Deka distributed Millet Health Carts to 72 women self-help groups and Ignition Grants to 24 startups. Member of Parliament Vijay Baghel, Durg Rural MLA Lalit Chandrakar, Vaishali Nagar MLA Rakesh Sen, former Assembly Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey, Durg Mayor Alka Baghmar, and Sahakar Bharati's Kaliram Sharma also attended the event.

Higher education and technical knowledge are meaningful only when they create new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Chief Guest Governor Shri Ramen Deka said that this event is a pledge to build a new Chhattisgarh through women empowerment, nutritional security and self-employment. He said that two important journeys are being launched here today. One will make our rural women economically self-reliant and encourage them to transform their dreams into enterprises through innovators. He said that higher education and technical knowledge are meaningful only when they connect with the real needs of the society and create new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. The Governor said that millet is giving a new direction to women entrepreneurship.

When a woman becomes self-reliant, the family becomes stronger.

Millet, or coarse grains, has held special significance in Chhattisgarh's agricultural tradition. Today, the traditional "Shri Anna" (millet) is becoming a new source of income, not only for nutrition but also for farmers, rural families, and women entrepreneurs. Millet, besides being nutritionally important, also provides income opportunities for farmers, rural families, and women entrepreneurs. Women self-help group members will be provided with free millet health carts and comprehensive training in product manufacturing, FSSAI standards, quality control, business management, and marketing to develop them into capable business entities. Emphasizing this initiative to connect women self-help groups with self-reliance, the Governor explained that when a woman becomes self-reliant, her family becomes stronger and the entire community gains confidence.

Women Self-Help Groups gave a new impetus to economic activities in villages

Highlighting youth innovation, Governor Shri Deka said that 24 innovation-based startups are being awarded a total Ignition Grant of ₹50 lakh. Inspiring the youth, he said that failures are natural in the path of innovation, but learning from them and continuously moving forward is the hallmark of a successful entrepreneur. Chhattisgarh's women have traditionally been exemplars of labor, skill, and entrepreneurship. Women's self-help groups have given new impetus to economic activity in villages. Now, the need is to connect their traditional skills with modern training, technology, branding, and marketing.

CSVTU – A Strong Hub for Women's Self-Reliance and Technological Innovation

Governor Mr. Deka commended the Technical University's efforts to disseminate knowledge and resources to the last person in society. He expressed confidence that CSVTU-FORTE (Foundation for Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship) will become a strong center for rural entrepreneurship, women's self-reliance, and technological innovation in the future. He wished all the women SHG sisters and youth a bright future.