Lok Sabha Question No. 1284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Mentorship Programme for Women Entrepreneurs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1284 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2023

## MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

## 1284. SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any steps have been taken to foster women entrepreneurs given that the number of  women-owned  enterprises  amount  to  just  twenty  per  cent  of  the  total  enterprises  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  mentorship  programmes  for  women entrepreneurs  in  collaboration  with  other  successful  women  entrepreneurs  considering  that lack  of  mentorship  from  the  business  community  is  one  of  the  main  challenges  faced  by women entrepreneurs in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  steps  have  been  taken  to  expand  women's  participation  in  traditionally male-dominated sectors considering that most women-owned businesses in the country operate in  low-revenue  sectors  or  'women-friendly'  sectors  such  as  beauty  and  apparel,  while  men control more profitable sectors like manufacturing, construction, etc.; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA)

(a) & (b): The  Government  of  India  has  taken  various  steps  to  foster  entrepreneurship among  women.  The  Ministry  of  MSME  implements  the  Prime  Minister's  Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), through which women entrepreneurs are provided higher subsidy for starting their own micro-enterprises.  Through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for MSEs, (CGTMSE), the Government of India provides guarantees in respect of credit facilities extended by eligible lending agencies to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). Guarantee fee for  women  owned  enterprises  is  less  than  the  normal  fee.      Under  the  Public  Procurement Policy, as amended in 2018, all Central Ministries/Departments and Public Sector Enterprises are mandated to procure at least 3% of their annual procurement from women-owned Micro & Small Enterprises.   Apart from the above, schemes of other Ministries, like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and Stand Up India, etc., help women set up their own enterprises.

(c): The  Government  of  India  implements  various  programmes  that  mentor  women entrepreneurs.   The Ministry of MSME's  scheme  'A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE)'  was launched  in 2015 with an objective of setting  up  a  network  of  Livelihood  Business  Incubators  (LBIs)  and  Technology  Business Incubators (TBIs) to create new jobs and reduce unemployment, promote entrepreneurship and innovation  in  agro  rural  sector.  While  LBI  focuses  on  imparting  training  and  handholding support  to  local  youth  for  job  creation  through  creation  of  micro  enterprises  and  wage employment,  TBI  assists  agro  rural Startups  in  developing  and  commercializing  new technologies through incubation support by providing necessary infrastructure such as office space, access to mentors and finance, value added services like IPR, market linkages, etc.

The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) facilitates last mile dissemination of all information  required  by  an  existing  or  prospective  entrepreneur,  including  Government  and Non-  Government  initiatives.  WEP  aims  at  address  the  information  asymmetry  and  helps nurture women entrepreneurship.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), a flagship initiative of the Government of India, has successfully nurtured innovation among the youth of the country through Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal Incubation Centers and Atal Community Innovation Centers. Since its inception, close to 800 women-led startups have been incubated.

(d) & (e): Through the Atal Innovation Mission, the Government nurtures the innovation spirit in women to innovate in not just the conventional sectors, but also in high tech sectors such as Life Sciences, Automotive and Aerospace, Energy and other relevant sectors. The Atal Innovation Mission has also published 75 best innovations of women, ranging from deep-tech startups to SDG based solutions.

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