Govt amplifies women entrepreneurship with new initiatives

New Delhi: The Government of India is taking significant steps to foster women entrepreneurship across the nation, launching a range of initiatives designed to empower and support female entrepreneurs.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) in Guwahati, is spearheading efforts to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women.

NIESBUD has been instrumental in implementing projects to strengthen entrepreneurship among marginalized populations. Through the Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) Programme, 32,262 women (67% of total beneficiaries) participated from 2021 to 2024.

The Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) and Trainers Training Programme, conducted during 2022-23, saw participation from 3,883 women, making up 78% of the total beneficiaries. Additionally, the Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) program provided entrepreneurship training to 22,239 women (28% of total participants) during 2023-24.

The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) Scheme, targeting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), trained 36,016 participants, including 28,786 women, during 2023-24. This initiative is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, NIESBUD and IIE launched the Rashtriya Udyamita Vikas Pariyojana (RUVP) on a pilot basis for Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANIDHI) beneficiaries. During 2023-24, they trained 2,729 participants, with 904 being women.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is reserving 10% of its Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme operated by SIDBI for women-led startups. The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) launched in 2018 serves as an aggregator platform to empower women entrepreneurs.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) supports Women Entrepreneurship Development Programs (WEDP) and startup incubation centers focused on women entrepreneurs.

The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) helps Self-Help Groups (SHG) and their family members establish small enterprises in the non-farm sector.

The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme offers training and financial assistance to women, including a credit-linked subsidy and seed capital ₹40,000 per member for SHG members. The scheme provides a 50% financial grant for branding and marketing support to groups of FPOs, SHGs, Cooperatives, or a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of micro food processing enterprises.

The Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY) provides loans at concessional rates to Scheduled Tribe women for income-generating activities. Loans up to 90% for projects costing up to ₹2 lakh are provided at a concessional rate of interest of 4% p.a. 

Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme offers a credit-linked subsidy to aspiring micro-entrepreneurs, with women benefiting from higher subsidies. More than 1.83 lakh women have turned into micro-entrepreneurs under this scheme over the last eight years. The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises provides collateral-free credit to women, with a guarantee coverage of up to 85% for loans.

The Ministry of MSME has implemented various schemes, including ZED Certification, Mahila Coir Yojana, and capacity-building programs, benefiting over 3 lakh women through training centers across the country. The SFURTI scheme has approved 80 clusters with a majority of women representation since 2019.

The MSME Ministry offers a range of schemes focusing on credit, technology, market development, and capacity building. Key initiatives include the Public Procurement Policy mandating 3% procurement from women-owned MSEs, the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises.

The government has launched special incubation hubs and campaigns such as the Yashasvini Campaigns to support and develop women entrepreneurs in Tier 2 and 3 cities. These campaigns aim to formalize informal women-owned micro-enterprises, providing handholding support for registration and mentorship.

The MSME TEAM Initiative supports women in accessing the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) benefiting around 2.5 lakh women in the next three years, and the Samarth Initiative allocates 20% of free skill development program seats for women, dedicates business delegations to women-owned MSMEs, and provides discounts on processing fees, promoting the registration of women-owned MSMEs.

The concerted efforts by various ministries and departments not only aim to boost women-led businesses but also contribute to a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial landscape in India.