Lok Sabha Question No. 1320 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-06
Subject: Tax Benfits for Women Entrepreneurs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1320

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 6, 2021

## TAX BENFITS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

1320. SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the rank of India in the world in terms of women entrepreneurship index along with the name of  the  enterprises  in  which  women  have  empowered  themselves  as  entrepreneurs  in  urban areas;
- (b)  whether the Government has made any provision to provide special rebate to the women entrepreneurs in various taxes and income tax;
- (c) if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d)  the  number of  women who have applied for starting their businesses in Rajasthan so far during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  Women  entrepreneurship  index  is  not  being  officially  released  globally  by  any  reputed international agency or organisation.
- (b)  &  (c)  No  Sir.  However,  several  other  measures  are  being  taken  to  support  the  women entrepreneurs.

These measures inter-alia include:

Department of Science & Technology (DST) has initiated programs to support startups including startups  led  by  women.  The  startups  have  been  supported  under  National  Initiatives  for Developing  and  Harnessing  Innovations  (NIDHI)  program  as  well  as  through  Public  Private Partnership (PPP) program. More than 200 women led startups have been guided, mentored and  provided  access  to  funding  and  other  networks  to  help  them  sustain  and  grow  their enterprises.

Several schemes of the government are under implementation for the benefit of Micro. Small and Medium (MSME) entrepreneurs, including women. Schemes like Mahila Coir Yojana and Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) provide additional benefits for women entrepreneurs in its schemes. The Public Procurement Policy mandates that all Central Ministries / Departments / Public Sector Enterprises are to procure at least 3% of their annual procurement from women micro, small enterprises.  Other  MSME  schemes  like  Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme, Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), Lean  Manufacturing  Competitiveness  Scheme,  Zero  Defect  and  Zero  Effect,  Credit  Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme for Technology Upgradation, Micro & Small Enterprises (MSE) -Cluster Development.  also  provide  financial  and  technical  support  to  micro,  small  and  medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs), including women owned MSMEs. In the last three years, more than 4 lakh women have been supported through these schemes.

(d) Under the Stand Up India, during the period April  1, 2018 to October 31, 2021, a total of 45716  women  loan  accounts  were  opened  with  an  aggregate  disbursement  of  Rs  4310.32 crore.  In  Rajasthan,  during  the  same  period,  1892  women  loan  accounts  have  been  opened under  the  scheme  with  an  aggregate  disbursement  of  Rs  194.6  crore.  Further,  as  per information received from State Government of Rajasthan the status of applications received from women entrepreneurs for starting their business under the iStart programme of the state government are given in the table below.

iStart Rajasthan-Women led Startup Scheme

| Year            |   Start-up Applications received |   Applications Approved |
|-----------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 2018            |                              219 |                     201 |
| 2019            |                              144 |                     127 |
| 2020            |                               94 |                      82 |
| 2021 (November) |                               78 |                      56 |

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