Over 22 Million MSMEs Owned by Women Registered Under Government Initiative in Recent Four Years: Minister
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New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) An impressive 2.21 crore women-owned MSMEs have registered on the Udyam Registration Portal (URP) and Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) within the timeframe of July 1, 2020, to November 30, 2024, as disclosed to the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shobha Karandlaje, conveyed in a written response that the government has initiated various measures to enhance the involvement of women in MSMEs across the nation.
These initiatives include targeted drives aimed at registering women-owned MSMEs. Additionally, the government revised the Public Procurement Policy in 2018 to favor women entrepreneurs.
This updated policy mandates that Central Ministries, Departments, and public sector undertakings procure a minimum of 3 percent of their annual purchases from women entrepreneurs.
To aid women entrepreneurs under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), a 10 percent concession is provided in annual guarantee fees; women-owned MSEs receive 90 percent guarantee coverage, compared to 75 percent for other entrepreneurs, according to the minister.
The Ministry of MSME also administers the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, a significant credit-linked subsidy initiative designed to foster self-employment opportunities through the establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector, supporting traditional artisans and unemployed youth from rural and urban areas.
Under this scheme, the subsidy rate for general beneficiaries is 15 percent in urban areas and 25 percent in rural areas.
For special category beneficiaries, including SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, Women, Ex-servicemen, Physically Handicapped, and those from North Eastern Region, Hill, and Border Areas, the subsidy is 25 percent in urban areas and 35 percent in rural areas.
Moreover, the participation of women entrepreneurs in trade fairs under the Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme is subsidized 100 percent, compared to 80 percent for other entrepreneurs, as stated by the minister.
Furthermore, to promote entrepreneurship among women, the Ministry of MSME implements the ‘Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana’ under the Coir Vikas Yojana, which is a specialized training program focused on skill development for women artisans working in the coir industry, she added.
