How Has India Mobilised Over 10 Crore Women into Self-Help Groups?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Over 10 crore women mobilised into self-help groups.
- 90 lakh self-help groups formed across India.
- Focus on women-led rural entrepreneurship.
- Collaboration with academic partners enhances initiatives.
- Workshops generate strategies for business growth.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 11 (NationPress) The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) has successfully mobilised more than 10 crore women into 90 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) throughout India, with numerous individuals emerging as first-time entrepreneurs, as stated by a government official on Thursday.
Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), underscored the significance of the incubator programme in promoting women-led rural enterprises.
During an event, he mentioned the impressive outcomes of pilot projects in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, and Karnataka, and noted that Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, among other states, are expanding these initiatives with the help of leading academic partners.
The Ministry, in collaboration with Kudumbashree, the Kerala State Rural Livelihood Mission, conducted a two-day National Workshop focused on Rural Enterprise Incubators under the DAY-National Rural Livelihood Mission.
While addressing the audience, M.B. Rajesh, the State Minister for Local Self-Government, reaffirmed Kerala's dedication to fostering women-led entrepreneurship through Kudumbashree and expressed optimism that the workshop would act as a collaborative and innovative platform to enhance rural enterprise ecosystems.
Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary (RL) at MoRD, emphasized the Ministry's ambition to expand the incubator programme into a national framework for women-led rural entrepreneurship, stating that the workshop would yield actionable strategies and robust partnerships for ensuring its enduring success.
The workshop aims to cultivate an environment conducive for the enterprises chosen for the incubator project to flourish.
Kudumbashree Executive Director, H. Dineshan, welcomed the attendees. Dr. Bidyut C Dekha, Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University, delivered the felicitation address.
The Ministry reported that the workshop includes panel discussions on mentoring, financing, technology, market access, and convergence, featuring insights from distinguished experts in academia, industry, and social enterprise networks, all of which will contribute to the scaling of rural enterprise incubation across different states.
The discussions over the two days are anticipated to provide tangible strategies for enhancing enterprise incubation across states and assist in empowering women entrepreneurs under the DAY-NRLM, aligning with the vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047.