Assam launches ‘biggest ever scheme for women entrepreneurs’

Guwahati: The Assam government will provide Rs 35,000 as financial assistance to 40 lakh women in what is being touted as the “biggest ever scheme for women entrepreneurs in the state.”

Announcing this development on X (formerly Twitter), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that this scheme will fulfill Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “building 2 crore lakhpati didis (millionaire sisters)”.

The scheme, titled ‘MukhyaMantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan’, seeks to develop women from self-help grounds (SHGs) as “rural micro-entrepreneurs”, said an official release.

To be eligible for this grant, would-be entrepreneurs should not have more than 3 children, said the release. Furthermore, an SHG member who has a girl child must enroll her in school once she attains the required age. Interested women must submit a business plan to avail the this grant. However, certain relaxations in the rules will be allowed for scheduled caste (SCs) and scheduled tribe (STs) candidates.

While submitting the forms, candidates should submit sankalp patras (resolution letters) vowing to follow the prescribed rules. Forms for this purpose will be available at the Panchayat offices. 

Once a woman qualifies for this grant, she will receive Rs 10,000 in the first year. In subsequent years, she will receive Rs 25,000 in two installments (Rs 12,500 as a loan from a bank and Rs 12,500 from the government). The loan received from the bank has to be paid back.

The Indian PM announced his intention to create “lakhpati didis” while delivering his Independence Day speech last year. The objective of this mission is to encourage women to start micro-enterprises within their villages.

Under this scheme, women are being trained in various skills, such as plumbing, LED bulb making, drone operation and repair, and tailoring and weaving to make them self-reliant.

In November last year, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 1,261 crore to provide drones to 15,000 SHGs, marking a significant stride towards making the PM’s vision a reality.

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