Lok Sabha Question No. 4337 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Economic Empowerment of Women
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Nama Nageswara Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION- NO. 4337

ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

4337: SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any effective steps for women under 'Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Startups by Women' (WEE), if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of women have been benefitted under this programme including both incubation and acceleration support programmes so far across the country; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  more  specialised  long-term  and  short-term courses programmes for women in the rural areas, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) & (b) Economic  Empowerment  of  Women  Entrepreneurs  and  Start-ups  by Women'  (WEE) project  was  supported  by  Deutsche  Gesellschaft  für  Internationale Zusammenarbeit  (GIZ)  GmbH  on  behalf  of  the  German  Federal  Ministry  for  Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  to  improve  the  framework  conditions  for  women-led enterprises in India. WEE project was launched by the MSDE in 2018, initially for a duration of 3 years (2018-21) in collaboration with GIZ, Government of Germany, which was further extended for one year to July, 2022. The project aimed to pilot incubation and acceleration programmes for women micro- entrepreneurs, enabling them to start new businesses and scale  up  existing  enterprises  in  the  States  of  Maharashtra,  Rajasthan,  Telangana,  Uttar Pradesh and eight North Eastern States of the Country. Under the title of 'Her & Now', the WEE project has streamed a film and media campaign to share the stories of successful women entrepreneurs and to foster a positive mindset change on gender roles and norms in society. Till now, 908 women entrepreneurs have been supported in the project under both incubation and acceleration support programmes.

Region-wise  data  for  number  of  women  entrepreneurs  as  part  of  the  incubation  and acceleration support programmes in the WEE project since 2018 are as follows:

| Region                      | Partner                      |   Total per State |
|-----------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------|
| NER - 8 States              | Dhriiti - The Courage Within |               233 |
| Rajasthan - 9 districts     | Startup Oasis                |               105 |
| Telangana - 26 districts    | WEHub                        |               109 |
| Maharashtra - 3 districts   | Mann Deshi Foundation        |               120 |
| Uttar Pradesh - 4 districts | Empower Foundation           |               341 |
| Total                       | Total                        |               908 |

- (c) Under Skill India Mission, MSDE delivers skill training (long-term and short-term) to all the sections of the society including women.  Training is imparted through a comprehensive network of skill development Centres/Institutes across the country under various  Schemes  viz.  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Also, various Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP) and Entrepreneurship cum Skill Development Programmes  (ESDP) are  being  imparted  by  National  Institute  for  Entrepreneurship  and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati.

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