April 28: The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) inaugurated the Eco Action Learning Centre (ELC) in Bangalore on 28 April 2026, a dedicated experiential training facility aimed at promoting sustainable rural entrepreneurship through practical, skill-based learning.
The Centre was inaugurated by Ms. Manisha Bhattacharya, Managing Director – Corporate Citizenship, Accenture; Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII and Dr. Raman Gujral, Director – CSR Partnerships, EDII.
The Eco Action Learning Centre in Bangalore serves as a hands-on training platform under the Micro Skill Development programme (MSDP), enabling rural entrepreneurs to gain real-time exposure to eco-friendly production systems and small-scale enterprise operations.
The initiative is part of a broader multi-location model being implemented across Bangalore, Pune, and Chennai, with expansion planned in Bhuj (2026–27). In all, 30 structured training programmes are being conducted under the initiative, directly benefiting around 1,500 rural entrepreneurs.
The Centre focuses on sustainable livelihood trades including fruit and vegetable dehydration, handmade soaps, upcycling of bags, bakery products, cold press oil extraction, candle making and millet-based food processing.
At the inauguration, Ms. Manisha Bhattacharya, Managing Director – Corporate Citizenship, Accenture, said,
“Accenture and EDII share a common vision of inclusive growth. It centres on building a future-ready economy. When rural entrepreneurs are given the right environment to discover their potential, they can scale successfully in the green economy. This Learning Centre is built on that belief, and its replication in multiple locations makes it a movement focussed on ensuring result-oriented impact and outcomes.”
Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII opined,
“The Eco Action Learning Centre represents a shift from training to transformation. By enabling hands-on exposure to sustainable production systems, we are building a strong foundation for rural entrepreneurs to become self-reliant, innovative, and environmentally responsible business owners.”
Throwing light on the mandate of the Centre, Dr. Raman Gujral, Director – CSR Partnerships, EDII explained,
“By integrating practical learning with enterprise readiness, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between skill development and self-employment, while promoting environmentally responsible entrepreneurship.”
Accenture and EDII’s shared journey of more than a decade has been defined by transforming lives of rural entrepreneurs who once had no place in the market and today trade confidently within it. Women entrepreneurs, in particular, have been the strongest testimony of what this collaboration stands for; many are now selling their products independently in local and regional markets, and several have taken their enterprises online, building their own e-commerce presence and reaching out to customers beyond their hometowns.
