How schemes for women empowerment are giving a boost to women entrepreneurs

Women empowerment is gaining momentum at a fast rate and why not? Nothing has been discovered so far which a woman cannot accomplish. From being a perfect homemaker to running huge businesses, women have the power to overcome every challenge. The Government of India has also taken a lot of steps to empower women. The launch of various schemes and measures have definitely helped women greatly to spark their talent and build their identity.

Gone are the days when women needed permission even to step out of the house. In the 21st century, women are multitasking and excelling in managing their work-life balance. Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi once said, “No country can progress if its women are not full partners in the development process."

The Government of India has taken various steps towards women empowerment and safety. Initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Stand Up India, Mission Indradhanush and many more have added to the welfare of the women population in India. With each passing day, we are getting more and more of women entrepreneurs which is not limited to the urban areas but from villages also.

Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB), in a merger with State Bank of India, empowers women of rural India by making them economically independent.

Women of this era do not want to sit behind the four walls of their home irrespective of their background and the story of Nirmala Devi from Malihabad, Lucknow is enough to validate. Nirmala Devi has been a homemaker since years but her life changed drastically after she received a loan of Rs 25,000 from Bharatiya Mahila Bank to set up a shop in Aant village. Her shop caters to the needs of women and sells products like cosmetics, jewelry, and garments. She says, "I am very happy as I have got my own identity. From being someone's wife, I am now a village shop owner”. The bank also disbursed Rs 5 lakh to a women entrepreneur in Gujarat to make chocolate bouquets.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “ India needs fewer and mega banks which are strong because in every sense, from borrowing rates to optimum utilization, the economies of scale as far as the banking sector is concerned are of great help”.

Various other banking schemes like Udyogini Scheme, Mudra Yojana Scheme for Women, Annapurna Scheme, and many more are giving women wings to fly.

Kudumbashree is another women empowerment programme by the government which aims to help women workers. Heera Jose from Insat ayurvedic products says in an interview with SMBStory that her ayurvedic medicine business is thriving because of this programme. “It doesn’t face challenges, Kudumbashree stalls helps attract customers to Insat’s products”.

Women are the pillars of society and when women are empowered, the whole world is empowered!  

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