Guwahati: The Union Minister for MSME Jitan Ram Manjhi launched the Yashasvini initiative in June 2024, which aims to empower women entrepreneurs and promote their active participation in the economy. The initiative will be organized at Shri Madhebdev International Auditorium at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, focusing on awareness campaigns, capacity building, training, access to credit and finance, technology adoption, mentoring, and market linkages.
The Joint Director of Ministry of Industries and Commerce Manju Rani Gogoi spoke to Business North East about upcoming Yashasvini and how the department is observing women entrepreneurship in Assam.
Excerpts of the interview is as under:-
Business North East: We have heard a lot about women empowerment and women entrepreneurship initiatives by the Ministry of Industries and Commerce. As you are in charge of the department looking after the Entrepreneurship department, could you please tell us about the new initiatives, particularly those you are currently involved in?
Joint Director: Yashasvini is a program launched by the Ministry of MSME for the development of aspiring women entrepreneurs or self-help groups led by women entrepreneurs. It was launched in June 2024 and features a nationwide program for Yoshi. It will be a mass awareness campaign among aspiring women entrepreneurs and self-help groups. For Assam, it will be on 4th October. Through this Yoshi program, the government ministers aim to organize the informal sectors where many women entrepreneurs are currently working. Over the years, we have observed that while many women are definitely working in different fields, they do so in a non-formal way. We want to organize them, and the ministry wants to support them through registration and continuous support, including credit, training, and marketing support.
BNE: What, according to you, is the main hurdle in the development of women entrepreneurs in Assam?
JD: There are many factors. From my personal experience with women entrepreneurs, I have observed that societal barriers play a significant role. Women are generally not allowed to move freely or are expected to manage family responsibilities first, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. Urban areas are slightly better, but women in rural and semi-urban areas, despite being skilled in handicrafts, food processing, and other sectors, cannot come forward due to societal constraints, lack of awareness, and mobility issues. These are the main challenges I feel personally.
BNE: We recently heard about the results of the Yoshi 2024 program. What are the essential learnings from this initiative?
JD: It is a very important and pertinent question. From our interactions with many women entrepreneurs, we learned that they need guidance on how to conduct business. They need credit support, branding development, and other forms of assistance. We can categorize their needs into basic business development, market support, policy support, and investor connections. We are planning to support them based on their demands in different fields.
BNE: What is your department doing to encourage women to pursue technical or scientific skills, which are often lacking in society?
JD: The Women Empowerment Cell was established in 2016, and since then, we have been organizing various training programs and entrepreneur development programs. I connect aspiring women entrepreneurs with training institutes, knowledge partners, and other technically skilled individuals. I maintain contact with as many women entrepreneurs as possible to guide them in the right direction based on their capabilities and expectations.
BNE: What, according to you, is the future of women entrepreneurs in Assam?
JD: From my experience, the future is very bright. Women are very sincere, even in loan repayment under programs like the Prime Minister Employment Generation Program. In districts like Morigaon, which was slightly industrially backward, women are coming forward to take loans and are regular in repayment. This shows their potential and sincerity. I personally feel that the future of women entrepreneurship in Assam is very promising.
BNE: Lastly, could you please give a message to women entrepreneurs who will view this program, encouraging them to come forward and join this vocation?
JD: I want to tell all aspiring women entrepreneurs not to hesitate. Contact the right person in the office, do not rely on hearsay, and use available resources like Google to find information. Come forward, join us in this journey, and take advantage of the opportunities available.
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