Lok Sabha Question No. 1259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Women Entrepreneurship
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1259

ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

1259.   MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

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

- (a)        Whether it is fact that women-led businesses are often highly successful and can lead to an  absolute  jump  in  economic  growth  by  addressing  critical  constraints  and  beliefs  about women in business; and
- (b)        If so, the details of the steps taken/proposed to be taken by Government to bolster the women  entrepreneurial  ecosystem  through  capacity  building, incubation  and  mentorship support?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT ANDENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI  RAJEEV  CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) & (b)    Under the Govt of India's Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill,  re-skill and up-skill training  through  an  extensive network  of  skill  development  centres/colleges/institutes  etc.  under  various  schemes,  viz. Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Shikshan  Sansthan  (JSS),  National Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and  Craftsman  Training  Scheme  (CTS)  through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society across the country. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready & industry ready skills.

It  has  been  noted/observed  that  many  women  led  businesses  from  micro  to  large  (SHGs  & Corporate) are indeed very successful and well managed for growth.

- I.      The details of the various initiatives taken by Ministries/Departments of the Government to encourage women entrepreneurship in the country are as under:
2. (i)      Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)  scheme  in  the  field  of  skill  development  for  rural  poor  youth  for  their  gainful employment  with  a  view  to  eradicate  poverty  in  the  country  under  the  umbrella  scheme  of Deendayal  Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).  It is a Bank lead  -MoRD funded training institution established by the Sponsor Banks in their Districts, to provide training for Skill and Entrepreneurship Development.  MoRD extends financial support for  the  construction  of  RSETIs  building  and  also  bears  the  cost  of  training  the  Rural  Poor candidates. Any unemployed youth in the age group of 18-45 years having an aptitude to take up self-employment or wage employment and having some basic knowledge in the related field can  undergo  training  at  RSETI. The  details  of  number  of  total  candidates  trained  and  settled including  the  women  candidates  trained  and  settled  during  last  3  years  and  current  financial year up to 31.10.2023 are provided as under:

| FY                     |   Total trained |   Total settled |   Women trained |   Women settled | %women trained   |
|------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
| 2020-21                |          255141 |          185234 |          206794 |          138538 | 81%              |
| 2021-22                |          314114 |          256429 |          257107 |          212400 | 82%              |
| 2022-23                |          409802 |          325880 |          331898 |          272977 | 81%              |
| 2023-24 up to 31.10.23 |          260355 |          147481 |          202295 |          121849 | 78%              |

(ii) Stand-up India Scheme (SUPI) launched on 05 th April, 2016 has been extended upto the year 2025. The objective of the Scheme is to facilitate loans from Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) of value between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 Crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled  Tribe  (ST)  borrower  and  one  Woman  borrower  per  bank  branch  for  setting up  greenfield enterprise in manufacturing, services or trading sector including activities allied to agriculture.  To  extend  collateral  free  coverage,  Government  of  India  has  set  up  the  Credit Guarantee Fund for Stand Up India (CGFSI).  Further, an online portal has been developed by SIDBI for the Stand Up India Scheme which provides support through more than 8000 active Hand  Holding  Agencies  to  prospective  entrepreneurs  in  their  endeavour  to  set  up  business enterprises,  starting  from  training  to  filling  up  loan  applications.   Further,  the  Stand  Up  India scheme  has  facilitated  setting  up  over  2.09  lakh  loans  to  SC/ST  and  Women  entrepreneurs across  the  country.   Out  of  this  more  than  1.77  lakh  loans  (84%)  have  been  sanctioned  to Women entrepreneurs as on 24.11.2023 since inception of the scheme.

(iii) Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 08.04.2015  to  extend  collateral  free  loans  credit  upto  Rs.  10  lakh  by  Member  Lending Institutions (MLIs), i.e., Scheduled Commercial Bank (SCBs), Non-Banking Financial Companies  (NBFCs)  and  Micro  Finance  Institutions  (MFIs).  Any  individual,  who  is  otherwise eligible  to  take  a  loan  and  has  a  business  plan  for  small  business  enterprise  can  avail  loan under the Scheme for income generating activities in the manufacturing, trading, service sectors including activities allied to agriculture across three loan categories, viz. Shishu (loans up to Rs. 50,000/-), Kishore (loans above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh) and Tarun (loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh). Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) has been set up by  Govt.  of  India  for  guaranteeing  loans  extended  to  the  eligible  borrowers  by  MLIs.   As  on 24.11.2023, a total of 44.46 crore loans have been extended under PMMY, since inception of the  scheme.   Out  of  the  total,  over  30.64  crore  loans  (69%)  have  been  extended  to  women entrepreneurs.

(iv) Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSME),  through  Khadi  and  Village Industries  Commission  (KVIC),  is  implementing  Prime  Minister's  Employment  Generation Programme  (PMEGP) for  assisting  entrepreneurs  in  setting  up  of  new  units  in  the  non-farm sector.  It  aims  to  provide  employment  opportunities  to  traditional  artisans/  rural  and  urban unemployed youth at their doorstep.  Under PMEGP, General Category beneficiaries can avail of  Margin  Money  (MM)  subsidy  of  25%  of  the  project  cost  in  rural  areas  and  15%  in  urban areas.  For beneficiaries belonging to Special Categories such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes,  OBCs,  Minorities,  Women,  Ex-servicemen,  Physically  Handicapped,  Transgenders, beneficiaries  belonging  to  Northeastern  Region,  Hill  and  Border  areas,  and  Aspirational Districts, the Margin Money subsidy is 35% in rural areas and 25% in urban area. The maximum cost of project is Rs. 50 lakhs in the manufacturing sector and Rs. 20 lakhs in the service sector. Also,  own  contribution  of  beneficiaries  under  Special  Category  including  women  is  05%  in comparison to 10% for General Category beneficiaries. Since 2018-19, existing PMEGP/REGP/MUDRA enterprises are also supported based on past good performances with 2nd loan for upgradation and expansion. Under 2nd Loan, maximum project cost admissible for Margin  Money  (MM)  subsidy  under  Manufacturing  sector  is  Rs.  1.00  crore  and  for  Service sector  is  Rs.  25  Lakhs.  Eligible  subsidy  on  2nd  loan  for  all  categories  is  15%  of  project  cost

(20% for NER & Hill States).  The details of women owned enterprises assisted under PMEGP during last 3 years and current year are given at Annexure-I.

(v)        The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is implementing various  schemes/programmes  to  promote  women  entrepreneurship  in  both,  rural  and  urban areas are as under:

-  To promote flow of both equity and debt to women led startups, 10% of the fund (Rs 1000 crore) in the Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme operated by SIDBI is reserved for women led startups. Under said scheme, as on 30th April 2023, 11women-led AIFs have been supported under FFS and approximately Rs. 2,000 crores have been invested in around 110 women-led startups.
-  Women Capacity Development Programme (WING) is a unique Capacity Development Program for women-led startups, to identify and support both aspiring and established women entrepreneurs in their  startup  journeys.  The  workshops  are  open  to  variety  of business  sectors  including  Tech,  Construction,  Product,  Machine,  Food,  Agriculture, Education, etc. The workshops served as a platform for emerging women entrepreneurs and  other  stakeholders  to  discuss  the  key  challenges  facing  women  entrepreneurs. WING workshops have created  a  conducive  environment to  share  best  practices  and experiences  in  overcoming  challenges  and to gain  insights  learned  from  the  business models adopted in the Indian context. A total of 24 workshops were conducted across 9 States, benefiting more than 1,300 women entrepreneurs.
-  Virtual  Incubation  Program for Women Entrepreneurs were conducted in collaboration with  Zone  Startups  to  support  20  women-led  tech  startups  with  pro-bono  acceleration support for 3 months.
-  Startup India Hub: A webpage dedicated to women entrepreneurs has been designed on the Startup India portal. The page includes various policy measures for women entrepreneurs by both Central and State Governments.
-  ASCEND  Startup Workshop Series and Women  for Startups Workshops: The Government organized a series of startup workshops - ASCEND (Accelerating Startup Calibre  &  Entrepreneurial  Drive),  for  the  entrepreneurs,  aspiring  entrepreneurs,  and students from North-eastern region. In addition, the workshops are being conducted with a specific focus on women  entrepreneurs  across  the  north-eastern states.  The workshops were organized during the month of November 2022 and December 2022 in Manipur,  Assam,  Meghalaya,  Mizoram,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Nagaland,  Sikkim,  and Tripura. The workshops witnessed participation of over 11,000 ecosystem stakeholders such  as  government  officials,  startups,  aspiring  entrepreneurs,  investors,  academic institutions, etc.
-  Super  Stree  Podcast:  With  a  vision  to  inspire  a  greater  number  of  women  across  all regions  in  India  to  become  entrepreneurs,  the  Super  Stree  video  podcast  series  has been launched on women in the Indian Startup Ecosystem. More than 8 podcasts have been released to spread awareness related to innovations from women and to further strengthen women entrepreneurship in the country
-  Through its various awareness programmes and capacity building  programmes organized by the Government, and through print media and social media platforms, the Government also creates awareness about the existing schemes which support micro, small and medium entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs.
-  The States' Startup Ranking on support to startup ecosystems is primarily an exercise to identify  good  practices across  all  the  Indian  states.  The  evaluation  includes  a  specific provision to gauge the formulation and implementation of policies and special incentives to promote women-led startups in each state. The particular action point has witnessed active  engagement  and  thereon  reporting  of  measures  undertaken  by  participating States and UTs.
-  To  identify  the  depth,  quality  and  spread  of  innovation,  inclusivity  and  diversity,  and entrepreneurship  in  country,  the  Government  instituted  the  National  Startup  Awards

('NSA'). The winners of NSA have emerged from Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Mysuru, Bhopal, Gurugram, Kochi, Lucknow, Margao, etc. All four editions of the NSA (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023) have featured a special category and award for women-led  startups.  NSA  recognizes  and  promotes  startups  across  20  sectors  and special categories

(vi)   Ministry  of  Women  &  Child  Development  implements  'Mission  Shakti'  -an  integrated women empowerment programme as umbrella scheme for safety, security and empowerment of women. The Umbrella Scheme of Mission Shakti has two sub-schemes namely "Sambal" and "Samarthya'.  'Samarthya' sub- scheme, has a component i.e. Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) at National, State and District levels for Empowerment of Women. HEW aims to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women at the Central, State/ UT and district levels with the mandate to create an environment in which women realize their full  potential.  The  support  under  the  HEW  is  for  guiding,  linking  and  hand  holding  women  to various institutional and schematic set ups for their empowerment and development including facilitating  access to  healthcare,  quality  education,  career  and  vocational  counseling/ training, financial  inclusion,  entrepreneurship,  backward  and  forward  linkages,  health  and  safety  for workers, social security and digital literacy at districts/ Blocks/ Gram Panchayats level across the country.

II. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development  (NIESBUD)  and  Indian  Institute of Entrepreneurship  (IIE),  Guwahati  has  been  working  for  the  empowerment,  upliftment  and development of women entrepreneurs across the country. MSDE has taken various initiatives towards promotion of women entrepreneurship across the Country. The details of the various initiatives taken by MSDE are as under:

## (i) Strengthening Entrepreneurial Climate through  Capacity Building,  Incubation Support, Mentoring and Handholding sanctioned under SANKALP Scheme

NIESBUD is implementing the project for strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem to  different  sections  of  the  society  including  marginalized  population  with  the  support  of SANKALP Programme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). A total of 13987 women beneficiaries have been covered in the project through capacity building interventions.

## (ii) Entrepreneurship Development among Jail Inmates

MSDE is implementing a project for Promoting Entrepreneurship Development among Jail Inmates through NIESBUD. The project has been implemented in the Nari Bandi Niketan, Lucknow, Model Jail, Lucknow and Central Jail, Varanasi. A total of 140 women beneficiaries have been trained in the project.

## (iii) Organising Workshops in Artisan Melas And Haats

NIESBUD is implementing a project supported by the MSDE for organising workshops for capacity building and providing entrepreneurial knowledge to the artisans during the Melas and Haats. A total of 342 women beneficiaries have been covered in the project.

## (iv)   Creating Entrepreneurial Climate through Training of Trainers and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)

NIESBUD  is  implementing  a  project  for  Creating  Entrepreneurial  Climate  through Training of Trainers and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Jan Shikshan

Sansthans (JSS). A total of 1105 women JSS Trainers have been trained in the project through Trainers Training Programme on Employability, Entrepreneurship and Life Skills. Further, a total of  3666  women  JSS  Trainees  have  been  trained  in  the  project  through  Entrepreneurship Development Programme.

## (v)      Pilot Project for Entrepreneurship Development Program

NIESBUD has implemented a Pilot Project for Entrepreneurship Development Program in 10 States sponsored by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship which aims at  creating,  fostering  and  promoting  the  spirit  of  entrepreneurship  among  the  target  groups through  Entrepreneurship  Development  Programme,  Mentoring  and  Handholding  support.  A total of 3089 women participants have been trained in the project.

## (vi)       Pilot Project on Entrepreneurship Development in Holy Cities

NIESBUD has implemented the pilot project on Entrepreneurship Development in Holy Cities  at  Varanasi,  Haridwar  and  Pandharpur.  The  primary  objectives  of  the  project  was  to catalyse  the  entrepreneurial  activities  of  the  temple  town  through  resumption  of  existing livelihood  activities  and  by  supporting  existing  enterprise  to  scale  up  and  to  tap  the  potential entrepreneurs,  mentoring  them  to  identify,  set  up  enterprises  and  management  of  the enterprises. A total number of 5719 female participants have been trained through the project in three project locations.

(vii) Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati has established incubation centres dedicated  to  nurturing  and  supporting  women-led  startups.  The  centers  provide  a  conducive environment for ideation, innovation, and early-stage development. They offer resources such as  shared  office  spaces,  access  to  technology,  and  networking  opportunities,  fostering  a collaborative  ecosystem  that  propels  women  entrepreneurs  towards  success.  Additionally, financial  linkages  are  being  provided  to  women  entrepreneurs  to  alleviate  initial  capital constraints. The following projects/ programmes are being undertaken by IIE for promotion of entrepreneurship among women:

- a. The Institute has undertaken various programmes under Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) formerly known as Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY), that benefits  women  to  be  financially  independent.  Women  have  been  motivated  to  learn various trades offered through the PMVDY scheme and start their own entrepreneurial journey thereby improving the livelihood of these women  from different tribal communities.  Under the PMVDY scheme, a fund of Rs. 2,40,000 as working capital is provided  to  every  cluster,  with  the  help  of  which  the  beneficiaries  can  purchase  raw materials  and  other  necessary  items  required  to  start  a  business  on  their  own.  Also additional  supporting  funds are allocated and  distributed per cluster to facilitate renovation, increase storage  space to  ensure maintenance  of mandatory  compliances and for electricity power connections.
- b. Cluster development projects undertaken to regenerate traditional artisanal activity:  In the North East Region, the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is actively leading the regeneration and revitalization efforts for women-led clusters through the  implementation  of  the  Scheme  of  Fund  for  Regeneration  of  Traditional  Industries (SFURTI). SFURTI is designed to breathe new life into traditional industries by offering crucial  support,  including  financial  assistance,  capacity  building,  design  development, product development support, capacity building, market linkage supports and technological upgrades.
- c. IIE Guwahati has been implementing 61 Projects of cluster development under SFURTI in various states of Northeastern Region, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Uttarakhand.

The key focus is in Northeastern Region and women beneficiaries who have taken one step out of their households to form collectives to create enterprise opportunities. Out of these  61  clusters,  30  clusters  are  primarily  women-led,  cutting  across  various  sectors like  Handloom  traditional  textile,  dress  making,  bamboo  craft  and  other  crafts,  food processing, toy making. Through the 61 clusters 30,054 beneficiaries were benefited.  Out of these 30,054 beneficiaries of SFURTI Programme implemented by IIE, 17,759 beneficiaries are women which is approximately 59 percent.

- d. Technological  interventions  have  enabled  women  artisans  to  increase  their  skills  and productivity to make contemporary products out of traditional skills and designs. Some women-led  clusters  developed  by  IIE  have  also  been  able  to  export  products  directly from  Nagaland,  enabling  them  earn  better  income  and  livelihoods.  Such  enterprising efforts  are  driven  by  women-led  SPVs  (Special  Purpose  Vehicles)  which  run  and manage the enterprise activities. They have also developed their own brand and distinct identity with the support provided by the Government.

(viii)  Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups by Women (WEE) project was supported by 'Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit' (GIZ) on behalf  of  the  German  Federal  Ministry  for  Economic  Cooperation  and Development  (BMZ) in partnership with the MSDE to improve the framework conditions for women-led enterprises in India. WEE project was launched by the MSDE in 2018, initially for duration of 3 years (20182021)  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  had  carried  out  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 the society. Over 908 Women Entrepreneurs were supported under the project under both incubation and acceleration support programmes.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1259 REGARDING 'WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP' TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023.

The details of women owned enterprises assisted under PMEGP during last 3 years and current year are as under:

| S.No.   | State/UT        | No of Projects   | No of Projects   | No of Projects   | No of Projects            |
|---------|-----------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|---------------------------|
| S.No.   | State/UT        | 2020-21          | 2021-22          | 2022-23          | 2023-24 (upto 30.11.2023) |
| 1       | Andaman Nicobar | 42               | 43               | 24               | 7                         |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh  | 856              | 1320             | 1716             | 1496                      |
| 3       | Arunachal       | 38               | 84               | 70               | 55                        |
| 4       | Assam           | 951              | 1272             | 907              | 410                       |
| 5       | Bihar           | 665              | 838              | 1335             | 1115                      |
| 6       | Chandigarh-UT   | 6                | 11               | 10               | 6                         |
| 7       | Chattisgarh     | 753              | 848              | 703              | 261                       |
| 8       | Delhi           | 33               | 45               | 30               | 21                        |
| 9       | Goa             | 18               | 43               | 36               | 24                        |
| 10      | Gujarat*        | 1841             | 2630             | 1821             | 1446                      |
| 11      | Haryana         | 622              | 692              | 626              | 374                       |
| 12      | Himachal        | 431              | 472              | 352              | 171                       |
| 13      | Jammu & Kashmir | 3235             | 8520             | 5035             | 3901                      |
| 14      | Jharkhand       | 444              | 502              | 613              | 276                       |
| 15      | Karnataka       | 1492             | 1940             | 1888             | 899                       |
| 16      | Kerala          | 953              | 1092             | 1257             | 626                       |
| 17      | Ladakh          | 85               | 82               | 28               | 24                        |
| 18      | Lakshadweep     | 2                | 1                | 1                | 0                         |
| 19      | Madhya Pradesh  | 1435             | 2385             | 1813             | 704                       |
| 20      | Maharashtra**   | 1179             | 1712             | 1523             | 589                       |
| 21      | Manipur         | 725              | 552              | 244              | 104                       |
| 22      | Meghalaya       | 140              | 283              | 121              | 52                        |
| 23      | Mizoram         | 417              | 333              | 195              | 156                       |
| 24      | Nagaland        | 310              | 535              | 196              | 88                        |
| 25      | Odisha          | 1319             | 1874             | 1757             | 567                       |
| 26      | Puducherry      | 13               | 24               | 13               | 7                         |
| 27      | Punjab          | 737              | 818              | 759              | 564                       |
| 28      | Rajasthan       | 663              | 670              | 596              | 372                       |
| 29      | Sikkim          | 24               | 33               | 22               | 35                        |
| 30      | Tamil Nadu      | 2663             | 2857             | 2856             | 1453                      |
| 31      | Telangana       | 734              | 1111             | 953              | 621                       |
| 32      | Tripura         | 224              | 260              | 165              | 80                        |
| 33      | Uttar Pradesh   | 2777             | 3712             | 3549             | 2350                      |
| 34      | Uttarakhand     | 551              | 489              | 484              | 267                       |
| 35      | West Bengal     | 907              | 1073             | 928              | 449                       |
|         | Total           | 27285            | 39156            | 32626            | 19570                     |

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