New Delhi/Dehradun. The Rural Enterprise Acceleration Project–Gramotthan (REAP), assisted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Rural Development Department of Uttarakhand, has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Gold Award 2026. The project received the honour in the “Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development” category under the Rural Development domain. The award was presented on Saturday at the 109th SKOCH Summit held in the Silver Oak Hall of the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
This achievement has been realised under the able leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the guidance of Rural Development Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary. On behalf of the Government of Uttarakhand, Additional Secretary (Rural Development) Jharna Kamthan received the award under the direction of Secretary (Rural Development) and Chief Project Director of REAP, Dheeraj Singh Garbyal. Officials and experts present at the ceremony described the recognition as clear evidence of the success of the state’s rural development policies.
More than 50 nominations were received in this category, and the REAP project was selected through a multi-stage evaluation process. SKOCH analysts first carried out a thorough review of the nominations. The project was thereafter shortlisted for presentation before an independent jury of subject experts on 30 June 2026. The experts appreciated the project’s methodology, its focus on women’s empowerment, the development of local enterprises and the strengthening of market linkages. Subsequently, on the SKOCH public voting platform, the project secured more than 60,000 votes and topped the list. On 1 September 2026 it was conferred the SKOCH Order of Merit, after which the final expert evaluation selected it for the Gold Award. The entire process underscored the transparency, effectiveness and public participation that characterise the project.
REAP is building a robust network of women-led rural enterprises across all 13 districts and 95 development blocks of the state. Through 440 Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), more than 8,000 women-led enterprises have been promoted and outreach has been extended to over 4.77 lakh people in rural areas. By converting the agricultural, handicraft and tourism potential of the hill regions into sustainable local enterprises, the project is working to raise the incomes of rural families and create livelihood opportunities within the villages themselves. Women are being prepared not merely as producers but as entrepreneurs and market operators, bringing lasting improvement to the economic condition of their households.
REAP–Gramotthan is an ambitious $378-million project of the Government of Uttarakhand, financed by IFAD and implemented through the Uttarakhand Gramya Vikas Samiti (UGVS). Scheduled to continue until March 2029, the project is strengthening rural enterprises, community institutions and market linkages for women and small farmer families across the state. Its primary objective is to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in rural areas, reinforce value chains and connect local products with national and international markets. The effort is not only increasing incomes but is also having a positive impact on reducing the migration of youth and women from the hills.
After receiving the SKOCH Award, officials stated that the honour is not merely a trophy but global recognition of the state’s rural development strategy. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government has taken several important steps to strengthen the rural economy. Under the guidance of Rural Development Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary, the project is being implemented effectively at the grassroots. Under the direction of Secretary Dheeraj Singh Garbyal, the team has organised women’s groups and provided them with skill training, financial support and market access. While receiving the award, Additional Secretary Jharna Kamthan said the achievement is the result of the hard work of the rural women and farmers of Uttarakhand.
Under the project, special encouragement is being given to mountain agricultural produce such as organic vegetables, fruits and spices, as well as to handicrafts and tourism-related service enterprises. By forming federations at the cluster level, small enterprises have been given collective strength, enabling them to compete in larger markets. Women are also being taught digital literacy, packaging, branding and online sales skills. As a result, many women entrepreneurs are now selling their products outside the state and becoming self-reliant.
The award marks an important milestone in establishing Uttarakhand as a model state in the field of rural entrepreneurship. Experts believe the REAP model can serve as a source of inspiration for other Himalayan states. In the remaining period of the project, the focus will remain on promoting a larger number of enterprises, further strengthening market linkages and adding new dimensions to the economic empowerment of women.
National-level experts and policymakers present at the SKOCH Summit praised Uttarakhand’s initiative. They observed that women-led rural enterprises are emerging as vehicles not only of economic development but also of social change. With employment opportunities being created within the villages themselves, families are remaining united and traditional knowledge is being linked to the requirements of modern markets.
This recognition of the REAP–Gramotthan project is a matter of pride for the entire state. It demonstrates that the right policies, strong leadership and effective implementation at the ground level can deliver world-class results even in rural areas. The state government will continue its efforts in this direction so that the villages of Uttarakhand become self-reliant and every family has access to a dignified livelihood.