The third day of the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav, organized by the Department of Financial Services and NABARD, featured a focused discussion on empowering rural women entrepreneurs. The day began with an engaging panel conversation on "Promoting Rural Women Entrepreneurs," highlighting the pivotal role women play in rural development and the steps required to enhance their contributions. Speakers underscored the relentless efforts of women in agriculture and entrepreneurship, emphasizing how their significant impact on the economy often goes unacknowledged.
Panel discussions: Promoting Rural Women Entrepreneurs
The panel delved into the exceptional performance of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), which have emerged as a beacon of hope, demonstrating lower NPAs and the transformative success of initiatives like the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ programme. This initiative has empowered over three crore women entrepreneurs in just three years.
Discussions also focused on the challenges rural women face in accessing financial resources, particularly loans, and the need to simplify and streamline these processes for easier access. The panel stressed the importance of adapting loan application procedures and products to better align with the unique nature of rural businesses.
Key drivers of economic empowerment, such as increased access to finance, capacity building, and digital platforms for women entrepreneurs, were highlighted. The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) was given special recognition for its pivotal role in advancing this vision.
Participants also underscored the need for stronger public-private partnerships, improved market linkages, enhanced digital literacy, and innovative marketing strategies, such as Geographical Indication (GI) tagging for rural products.
Future steps discussed during the session included large-scale skilling programs tailored to meet evolving demands and equip women entrepreneurs to compete on international standards. Simplifying loan disbursement processes and ensuring accessibility to various types of loans were identified as crucial priorities.
It emphasised that NRLM remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving these goals, with private-sector partnerships playing a vital role in bridging gaps and fostering sustainable development.
The afternoon session featured a workshop on "Promoting Digital Commerce for Rural Entrepreneurs," which shed light on leveraging e-commerce and digital platforms to expand market reach for rural businesses. Experts presented insights into creating a robust ecosystem that supports rural entrepreneurs in accessing global markets and thriving in the digital age.
Cultural Spectacle: Winding up the day with a celebration of India’s best tradition and artistic heritage.
The day concluded with a vibrant cultural show celebrating India’s rich traditions and artistic heritage. The mesmerising performances included,
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Durga Stuti by Pt. Mukul Misra (Bengal)
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Kavyaraag by Chinmayi Tripathi and Joell (Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra)
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Odissi dance by Sharmila Biswas and her group (Odisha)
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Carnatic Kritis by Sudha Raghuraman (Tamil Nadu)
These captivating performances enthralled the audience and underscored that the diverse cultural fabric of India is rooted deeply in its rural communities.
