Government Schemes for Women: The central and state governments run numerous schemes to educate and empower women. These schemes not only provide loans but also offer business training. Today, women are no longer limited to managing households, but are also achieving success in offices and businesses. The government runs various schemes to empower women and promote their businesses. In this article, let us tell you about some such schemes specifically designed to empower women.

PM Mudra Loan Scheme

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is an initiative of the Government of India that provides secured loans of up to ₹10 lakh to non-corporate, non-agricultural small and micro enterprises. This scheme was launched on April 8, 2015. These loans are divided into four categories: Shishu Loan, Kishor Loan, Tarun Loan, and Tarun Plus. This scheme allows women to easily raise seed capital for their businesses. Applications for this scheme can be made on the official website www.mudra.org.in.

Shishu - Loan up to ₹50,000

Kishor - Loan above ₹50,000 and up to ₹5 lakh

Loan - Loan above ₹5 lakh and up to ₹10 lakh

Interest rate - This varies by bank and is determined under Reserve Bank guidelines.

Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme

The Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is a flagship credit-linked subsidy scheme of the Government of India, operating under the Ministry of MSME since 2008. It aims to generate self-employment by providing 15% to 35% subsidy for starting new micro-enterprises in rural and urban areas. This scheme provides employment opportunities at the local level and is implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Maximum Project Cost: Projects up to ₹50 lakh are eligible for the manufacturing sector and ₹20 lakh for the service or business sector.

Subsidy: Subsidies of 25-35% are provided in rural areas and 15-25% in urban areas.

Eligibility: Individuals over 18 years of age, self-help groups (SHGs), and cooperatives can apply. Loans are available only for new enterprises.

Application: Applications can be submitted online through the PMEGP e-portal.

Lakhpati Didi Scheme

The Lakhpati Didi Scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at enabling rural women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to earn a sustainable income of at least ₹1 lakh per year by providing them with skills training, microenterprise support, and financial assistance, including loans up to ₹5 lakh and interest rebates. Under this scheme, women are encouraged to pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship to improve their quality of life.

Eligibility - A woman must be a member of a Self-Help Group (SHG) and contribute to the family's income.

Financial Assistance - Loans and financial assistance are provided to women entrepreneurs to start micro-enterprises.

Skill Development - Women are trained in various fields such as agriculture, handicrafts, micro-enterprises, banking, and tourism.

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