From hostels to She Marts, Union Budget bets on safety, education, and markets for women

In her 2026-27 Budget speech in Parliament on Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman framed women not just as beneficiaries but as central drivers in India’s growth story.

“Our aim is to transform aspiration into achievement and potential into performance, as we ensure that the dividends of growth reach every farmer, the scheduled caste, the scheduled tribes, the nomads, the youth, the poor, and the women," she said.

This intent was reflected in a set of targeted measures for women spanning education access, safety, and market linkages for women entrepreneurs.

The FM, in her budget speech, addressed one of the biggest barriers to higher education: safe and affordable accommodation for girls. 

"In higher education, STEM institutes' prolonged hours of studying and laboratory work pose some challenges for girl students. Through VGF (Viability Gap Funding) or capital support, one girls' hostel will be established in every district," she announced.

This move will improve safety and mobility for young women, reduce dropout rates, and enable greater participation in higher education and STEM streams.

The emphasis echoes concerns flagged in the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament last week, which highlighted that women’s workforce participation, though rising, remains constrained by mobility, safety, and care responsibilities, factors that often begin with limited access to education and residential infrastructure.

By investing in hostels and proximity to industry clusters, the government is targeting these structural challenges at their root.

SHE Marts for women-led enterprises

Building on the success of the Lakhpati Didi scheme, the Budget has introduced SHE Marts—community-owned retail outlets run by women entrepreneurs. She Marts will serve as local marketplaces for SHG products and as spaces for collective ownership and income generation. 

“I propose to help women take the next step from credit-linked livelihood to owners of enterprises.

Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts will be set up as community-owned retail outlets within the cluster level federations through enhanced and innovative financing instruments," she said.

Many women-led micro-enterprises struggle to scale because they lack distribution channels and retail visibility. This announcement will help grassroots entrepreneurs gain market access and create dedicated women-run storefront ecosystems.