"When a woman is empowered, she uplifts her family, her community, and entire nation": MoS Jayant Chaudhary

New Delhi [India], March 1 : The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog, launched Swavalambini-- a Women Entrepreneurship Programme at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, taking a significant step towards strengthening women entrepreneurship in India, the ministry said in a release on Saturday.
This initiative empowers female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by providing them with the necessary entrepreneurial mindset, resources, and mentorship to successfully build and scale their ventures, as per the ministry.
Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and MoS for Education Jayant Chaudhary, during his address, said, "The Swavalambini Women Entrepreneurship Programme 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 empowered, a woman uplifts her family, her community, and the entire nation."
Chaudhary also added, "The Government of India has consistently focused on providing equal opportunities to the youth of India through the National Education Policy, 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."
Under the aegis of MSDE and implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and in joint partnership with NITI Ayog, Swavalambini aims to establish a structured and stage-wise entrepreneurial journey for young women. The programme will take participants through various stages, including awareness-building, skill development, mentorship, and funding support. The initiative seeks to set a benchmark for the future of women entrepreneurship in India by promoting and recognising promising women-led ventures.
Following its successful introduction across several HEIs in the Eastern region, including IIT Bhubaneswar and Utkal University in Odisha; North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong; Kiang Nangbah Government College, Jowai and Ri Bhoi College in Meghalaya; Mizoram University; Government Champhai College, Champhai and Lunglei Government College in Mizoram; Handique Girls' College, Guwahati; Dispur College and Gauhati University in Assam, among others, Swavalambini is now being expanded to other regions of the country.
The event also marked the virtual launch of Swavalambini in Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the University of Hyderabad, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University, thereby extending the reach of this initiative across different regions of the country.