MSDE and NITI Aayog Launch Swavalambini Program to boost Women Entrepreneurship in India

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog, has launched Swavalambini – a Women Entrepreneurship Program at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. This initiative aims to empower female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, providing mentorship, and offering resources to help them build and scale successful ventures.

Key highlights of Swavalambini: Women Entrepreneurship Program

1. Entrepreneurial training for women

• The program follows a structured, multi-stage training approach to help young women transition from ideation to enterprise creation.
• The Entrepreneurship Awareness Program (EAP) introduces 600 female students to fundamental business concepts.
• The Women Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) provides 40 hours of intensive training for 300 selected students, covering business development, finance, and market linkages.
• A six-month mentorship and hand-holding support system helps participants transform ideas into sustainable ventures.

2. Faculty development and recognition

• A Faculty Development Program (FDP) equips educators from participating HEIs with the necessary skills to mentor aspiring women entrepreneurs.
• The Award to Rewards Initiative recognizes and supports successful women entrepreneurs emerging from the program.

3. Nationwide expansion and virtual launch

• Swavalambini has been successfully implemented in several institutions across Eastern India, including IIT Bhubaneswar, Utkal University, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Shillong, Mizoram University, and Handique Girls’ College, Guwahati, among others.
• The initiative was also virtually launched at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), University of Hyderabad, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University, further expanding its reach.

4. Government support

• The program focuses on women-led development, ensuring equal opportunities and integrating entrepreneurship into education policies.
• It aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to equip young women with the skills, confidence, and resources needed to succeed as entrepreneurs.

MoUs for strengthening entrepreneurial education and ecosystem

• The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) partnered with the Skills Development Network (SDN) and Chaudhary Charan Singh University to enhance entrepreneurial education, training, and incubation support.
• The collaboration aims to develop curriculum, promote self-employment, and provide structured mentorship for aspiring women entrepreneurs.

These MoUs will contribute to building a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem through training programs, workshops, and incubation initiatives.

Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and MoS for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary during his address, said “The Swavalambini Women Entrepreneurship Program is an initiative aimed at empowering young women with the skills and confidence needed to establish their own businesses. We want to move beyond programs that enlist women as beneficiaries of the schemes, we want to move to women-led development initiatives and this is our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s conceptualisation as well.

Women’s participation is crucial for India’s progress. Imagine the limitless possibilities if we break barriers and provide women with the right resources, training, and financial support, we can unlock their true potential. Women’s empowerment is not just an economic necessity but a social transformation. When a woman is empowered, she uplifts her family, her community, and the entire nation.”

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Shri Jayant Chaudhary also added, “The Government of India has consistently focused on providing equal opportunities to youth of India through NEP 2020 which has given them the vision to learn and excel in their careers. We look forward to introducing a curriculum with AI related courses in schools and colleges, to create awareness and upskill the youth of our country”

By advocating an ecosystem that nurtures women entrepreneurs, Swavalambini aims to drive economic growth, social transformation, and sustainable business development. The initiative aspires to see at least 10% of EDP-trained participants establish successful enterprises, contributing to a self-reliant, women-led entrepreneurial landscape in India.