TN Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare launches Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust ‘Business Idea Contest’ for aspiring women entrepreneurs from underprivileged communities

Appreciating the role played by women-owned startups in Tamil Nadu, Hon’ble Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Kayalvizhi Selvaraj said that the state government has stepped up efforts to help grassroot entrepreneurs generate employment in towns and villages, even as she stressed on the need to embrace digital initiatives to bring banks, mentors, entrepreneurs, and Women’s Self Help Groups onto one seamless platform.

Speaking at a conference titled “PENN SHAKTI – Celebrating Women Grampreneurs” on 7th March 2023, Chennai, she appreciated the role played by socio-economic mentoring organisations like Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST), which has reached out to two lakh youths in Tamil Nadu and created 2300 successful entrepreneurs who are providing employment to thousands of workers and contributing to the state exchequer.

The minister further stated, “I am delighted to launch the Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust ‘Business Idea Contest’ for aspiring women entrepreneurs from underprivileged communities of Tamil Nadu and across India. By providing a platform such contests can encourage more and more women from underprivileged communities to come forward, apply their traditional knowledge and skills, and education – to develop their own enterprises and take a lead in the socio-economic progress of the country.”

The half day event showcased the exemplary journey of BYST-supported women entrepreneurs, five of whom were recognised and awarded for their achievements:

- Ms. Panchamirtham for ‘Highest Business Revenues’ 
- Ms. Sharadha Gopalakrishnan for ‘Best Digitally Enabled Enterprise’ 
- Ms. Divya S K for ‘Most Promising Green Enterprise’ 
- Ms. Leema for ‘Rekindling Traditional Arts and Handicrafts’, and 
- Ms. Mythili for  ‘Breaking the Barriers via Social Inclusion’

Ms. Lakshmi V. Venkatesan, Founding and Managing Trustee, BYST also announced, “Today, in the presence of the Hon’ble Minister and dignitaries, we are launching an Entrepreneur Cybersecurity Programme for Women Grampreneurs® in partnership with CISCO CSR. We are also inaugurating the BYST Women Grampreneur Development Programme in Kancheepuram district in partnership with J K Tyre.”

Ms Lakshmi V. Venkatesan, Founding and Managing Trustee, BYST highlighted the role played by mentoring to transform grassroots women entrepreneurs into lakh- and crore-patis. She also announced today in the presence of the Hon’ble Minister and dignitaries, that BYST is extending its nationwide ‘BYST Grampreneur^® Development Programme’ with a special focus on digitally-driven women enterprises to Kancheepuram in partnership with a leading corporate, JK Tyre.
The event also witnessed a panel discussion and a special plenary session featuring eminent women achievers from Academia, Banking and Financial Services, Corporate and Development Sectors, and the Public Sector including Ms. Booma Santhakumari, GM, Financial Inclusion & Development Dept., RBI, Ms. Sharon Buteau, ED, Institute for Financial Management & Research, Chennai, and  Mr. B S Dagar, VP & Group Head, IR & CSR, JK Tyre.

A Letter of Cooperation (LoC) was exchanged for the Mentoring India^® Programme between BYST and Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology.
Products of BYST-supported Grampreneurs^® were showcased at an exhibition, and special skit and musical performances were rendered by  Social Work students of Patrician College of Arts and Science, Chennai.
Over 1500 mentors, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders participated in hybrid mode to celebrate the impact of mentoring and the achievements of BYST-supported women entrepreneurs.