In a landmark initiative to empower women entrepreneurs and drive economic growth, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has launched the Women Entrepreneurship Program. This program addresses the unique challenges faced by women in business by offering crucial skills, knowledge, and networking opportunities. Collaborating with Britannia Industries Limited, the initiative will also provide financial grants and feature products and services on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), fostering an inclusive environment for women entrepreneurs.
During the launch, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, emphasized the significant progress made through the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and collaborations with various ministries. He highlighted the importance of partnerships with organizations and government departments to deliver skill training to women’s self-help groups, both individually and collectively, and to help them form business entities. Tiwari noted that 82% of trainees under Jan Shikshan Sansthan and nearly 45% of participants in the PMKVY short-term training program are women.
The program offers free self-learning entrepreneurship courses in multiple languages on the SIDH, awarding co-branded certificates from NSDC, Britannia Industries, and NIESBUD upon completion. This initiative aims to empower approximately 2.5 million women across India, providing them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to launch and grow successful businesses. The program will culminate in a grand finale where the top 50 participants will present their business ideas to a distinguished jury, with the top 10 receiving financial grants of 1 million rupees each from Britannia Industries.
Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, COO (Officiating CEO) of NSDC & MD of NSDC International, highlighted the alignment of this program with the Prime Minister’s vision for women’s development and the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors in promoting women’s entrepreneurial ambitions.
Shri Rajneet Singh Kohli, CEO and Executive Director of Britannia Industries, emphasized Britannia’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and described the MoU with NSDC as a transformative step for women’s empowerment in India.
The program, implemented in multiple phases, includes free online self-learning entrepreneurship courses covering essential topics like entrepreneurial skills, enterprise setup, finance basics, digital skills, and market analysis. The second phase extends robust incubation support to 10,000 shortlisted participants, including business model selection, development programs, industrial workshops, business registration assistance, project report preparation, and guidance on funding. Participants’ products and services will be showcased on SIDH’s e-commerce platform, UdhyamKart, and Britannia’s digital ecosystem for women entrepreneurship. NSDC will conduct periodic impact assessments to ensure the program’s long-term success and sustainability, thereby expanding the reach and visibility of women-led enterprises and contributing significantly to India’s economic growth.
