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Where enterprise
meets the
village.
PRIME Rural takes enterprise support beyond city limits — to the villages, hills, and valleys of Meghalaya where traditional knowledge, natural resources, and community strength are the raw material of sustainable business.
11
Districts Covered
65%+
Women Entrepreneurs
₹10L
Rural Kick Start Grant
500+
Village Enterprises
01
Village-Level Reach
Block Officers embedded in every district — enterprise support that travels to you.
02
Land & Craft
Agriculture, forest produce, weaving, and pottery — traditional knowledge turned market-ready.
03
Women First
Over 65% of rural PRIME entrepreneurs are women — programmes designed around their reality.
04
Market Access
Connecting village produce to city shelves, ONDC, and national trade shows.
05
On-Site Training
Skill programmes that come to the community — no one leaves home to learn.
06
Rural Credit
Simplified financing pathways for founders who've never held a bank loan before.
About the Fellowship
A bridge between aspiration and opportunity
The PRIME-Sauramandala Rural Entrepreneurship Fellowship (PSREF) is a rural entrepreneurship programme by the Planning Department of the Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with the Sauramandala Foundation.
In a world that is rapidly urbanising, PSREF hopes to build a conducive ecosystem for entrepreneurs from the most disconnected remote areas. This fellowship is more than just a programme — it's a bridge between aspirations and opportunities, between traditional wisdom and modern innovation, between the quiet villages and the bustling global markets.
Every entrepreneur that emerges from PSREF is not just an individual with a business plan, but a story of grit, resilience, and an undying spirit. PRIME Fellows and local PRIME Associates are placed in remote blocks of Meghalaya, where they actively promote rural entrepreneurship — working full-time to identify promising entrepreneurs and address their challenges.
Entrepreneurs' Support Areas
Registration & Licensing
Business Planning
Book Keeping & Unit Economics
Raw Materials Linkages
Branding & Packaging
Product Development
Mechanisation
Trainings
Exposure Visits
Capacity Building
Man-Power
Marketing
Market Linkages
Built Environment
Solar Electrification
Funding
What You Will Do
The role of a Fellow / Associate
01
Catalyzing Rural Change
Your mission is to be a catalyst for change, nurturing a supportive environment for rural entrepreneurs in Meghalaya. Your contributions will empower these entrepreneurs, shifting focus from traditional government jobs to entrepreneurship. You will belong to an exclusive PSREF community seamlessly integrated with the PRIME ecosystem — enabling continuous collaboration with fellow members, the dedicated PRIME-Sauramandala team, and respected mentors from diverse sectors.
02
Gaining Valuable Experience
By collaborating closely with diverse teams, experts, and funding organisations, you will experience frequent cross-functional interactions and involvement in projects supported by international partners such as the World Bank, JICA, or IFAD. This guarantees a unique exposure to rural development unlike any other — enabling you to gain profound insights and contribute to state-level policy discussions.
03
Influencing Policy Changes
By collecting insights from the field and working in partnership with policymakers to address pressing challenges. Your role will entail regular engagement with high-level officials, including Deputy Commissioners, Principal Secretaries, and community leaders. This exposure provides insights into the decision-making processes at the highest levels, while you develop essential life skills — interpersonal communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and critical and design thinking.
04
Rural Immersion
By becoming an integral part of the local community, sharing experiences, culture, and knowledge. The experiences you acquire during PSREF will thoroughly prepare you for a career in rural development, startup incubation, or entrepreneurship promotion with national or international organisations. Upon completion, you receive a comprehensive certificate highlighting your achievements and areas of expertise.
Programme Structure
18 months across three phases
Phase I — 2 Months
Immersion
Onboarding & teambuilding
Rural immersion
Understanding local scenarios in villages/blocks
Connecting with local players
Project planning
Phase II — 14 Months
Intensive Scouting
Identification of high-potential entrepreneurs
Mapping of gaps and challenges
Diagnostic and intervention planning
Hand-holding process
Mentor sessions, training, capacity building, and exposure visits
Cross-learning between blocks
Phase III — 2 Months
Policy Advocacy & Transition
Documentation of outcomes and learnings for Cycle 2 of PSREF
Presentation of insights to administration
Implementation of feedbacks into PSREF structure
Handover of responsibilities to new Fellows/Associates
At a Glance
Fellows & Associates
PRIME Fellows
- Candidate Origin
- From across India
- Duration
- 18 months (Full-time in Meghalaya)
- Age
- 24–35 years
- Stipend
- ₹40,000 / month
- Slots (Phase 1)
- 12 (Phase 1)
- Working Language
- English
Qualification: Graduate/Postgraduate in any discipline. 2–3 years experience in rural development, entrepreneurship, agri-business, incubation or startups.
Citizens/youth of Meghalaya with a minimum of 3 years of full-time technical experience, or who have completed the fellowship as an Associate, may also apply as a Fellow.
PRIME Associates
- Candidate Origin
- Citizens / Youth of Meghalaya only
- Duration
- 18 months (Full-time in Meghalaya)
- Age
- 20–28 years
- Stipend
- ₹30,000 / month
- Slots (Phase 1)
- 24 (Phase 1)
- Working Language
- English and local dialect of the respective block
Qualification: Graduate/Postgraduate in any discipline. Freshers accepted with demonstrated project, research, or field experience related to rural development, entrepreneurship, agri-business, incubation or startups.
Must be native to or have strong roots in the block the candidate is applying for.
Application Process
Three-stage process, rolling intake
The application process for the PRIME-Sauramandala Rural Entrepreneurship Fellowship — for both PRIME Fellows and PRIME Associates — is a three-stage process. As we are looking for real changemakers, the process is slightly different from what you would expect.
The interview process is conducted on a rolling basis — early applications are strongly encouraged. Applications not adhering to the requirements or process will be disqualified.
Current employees or contractors of the Government of Meghalaya, PRIME, MBMA, MBDA, MIE, or their affiliated organisations and NGOs are not eligible to apply.
Contact for queries
Apply
Be the change in rural Meghalaya
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Reach us at info@primemeghalaya.com or info@sauramandala.org with any questions.
Apply Now