The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), incubated under NITI Aayog, in collaboration with online travel company MakeMyTrip, announced the launch of Project Maitri, an initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and self-reliance in women in the north-eastern parts of the country. The initiative was launched at an event in the Dorjee Khandu State Convention Center in Itanagar in the presence of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

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Project Maitri, designed to empower and inspire home-stay owners in the north-eastern states, will leverage the untapped potential of home-stays as a pathway to entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and independence, according to a joint statement by WEP and MakeMyTrip.

“Applications for this transformative program will open on December 13, 2023, on the WEP website,” it said. 

“The project embodies a strategic approach to bolster women's entrepreneurship, aligning with national goals of gender equality and economic development. It has the potential to deliver long-term dividends, as home-stays in India can evolve into a viable and lucrative business avenue for women seeking financial independence,” said Anna Roy, Mission Director, WEP. 

As part of the project, selected participants will receive specialised training tailored to their unique business needs that will cover a wide range of skills, including hospitality, safety, digital marketing and compliance.

The top three home-stay owners will be recognised with awards, further incentivising excellence and innovation in this sector, the statement added. 

“We believe in the transformative power of travel, and through this project, we aim to unlock this power for women home-stay owners. We are proud to partner with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform in this endeavour and look forward to seeing these incredible women entrepreneurs flourish as they contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of India's tourism industry," said Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip. 

The WEP is a government-backed initiative launched by the NITI Aayog in 2017 to promote a conducive ecosystem for women’s entrepreneurship in the country.