Rural Development, MSME Ministries Join Hands to Boost SHG Women Enterprises

Reflecting the true spirit of the ‘whole-of-government approach,’ Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to collaborate on formalising and strengthening Self Help Group (SHG) women-led rural enterprises through MoMSME's flagship schemes.

The SoI was signed by Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Rural Development, and Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, in New Delhi in the presence of Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, MoRD, S C L Das, Secretary, MoMSME, and Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, MoRD, along with senior officials from both ministries, at Krishi Bhawan, an official release said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharma emphasised that the signing of the SoI between MoMSME and MoRD underscores a whole-of-government approach. She highlighted that this collaboration will facilitate the empowerment of Lakhpati Didis, as envisioned by  Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Epao, speaking on the occasion, affirmed that the SoI will strengthen the partnership between the two ministries to support and elevate SHG Didis in entrepreneurship, leveraging MoMSME's flagship initiatives such as Yeshaswini-Apna Udyam, Apni Pehchaan, Udyam Assist, etc.

Both the secretaries appreciated the convergence and committed themselves to undertaking various collaborative steps in tune with the Statement of Intent, the release added.