Women’s Economic Empowerment as Strategic Investment
Delivering the special address, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, emphasized that women’s economic empowerment is not welfare but a strategic investment critical to India’s growth, resilience, and social stability. He highlighted public procurement as a powerful tool to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation of women-led enterprises in government supply chains.
Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, DAY-NRLM, stressed that linking SHG products and services to public procurement is now a strategic priority. He outlined coordinated efforts across Ministries, States, and development partners to systematically integrate women-led enterprises (WLEs) into procurement processes.
Launch of Microsite and Sectoral Playbooks
On the occasion, the Ministry launched a dedicated microsite serving as a roadmap for women entrepreneurs to establish and operate enterprises nationwide. Three sector-specific playbooks were unveiled, focusing on housekeeping & laundry, food processing, and apparel enterprises. Additionally, a coffee table book documenting SHG enterprise journeys and institutional learnings was released.
Participation and Experience Sharing
The workshop brought together State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), key Ministries, CSR leaders, and industry stakeholders. Senior officials including Smt. Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary, DAY-NRLM, and Smt. Neha Giri, State Mission Director, Rajasthan SRLM, attended the event. Development partners such as the World Bank and the Gates Foundation were also represented.
Entrepreneurs from Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Bihar shared their experiences in public procurement, highlighting strategies for scaling operations, maintaining quality, and ensuring sustainability.
DAY-NRLM: Impact and Opportunities
Since its launch in 2011, DAY-NRLM has mobilized over 10.05 crore rural women into more than 90.90 lakh SHGs, forming one of the world’s largest women-led community networks. Banks have extended cumulative credit of over ₹11.10 lakh crore to SHGs, significantly enhancing rural livelihoods and social empowerment.
Public procurement presents major opportunities, accounting for 13–20% of global GDP. In India, 25% of government procurement is earmarked for Micro and Small Enterprises, with 3% reserved for women-led enterprises, creating a structured path for SHGs to scale sustainably. PCI India, supported by the Gates Foundation, provides technical assistance to strengthen planning, capacity building, and competitive readiness of SHG enterprises within these systems.
Promoting Inclusive Rural Development
The workshop underscored the transformative potential of public procurement in advancing women’s economic empowerment. By positioning SHG enterprises as credible suppliers within government ecosystems, the initiative contributes to inclusive, gender-responsive rural development aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
