Ministry of Rural Development has launched a nationwide roadmap for SHE-MARTs (Self Help Entrepreneur Marts).
- SHE-MART, announced in Union Budget 2026-27, aims to empower women entrepreneurs by creating community-owned retail outlets within cluster-level federations of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- The initiative highlights the significance of SHGs in women empowerment.
Role of SHGs in Women's Empowerment
- Financial Inclusion: Promotes savings, access to institutional credit, insurance, and digital banking among rural women.
- E.g., Bank Sakhi Programme trains SHG women as banking correspondents.
- Entrepreneurship Development: Supports women-led enterprises through skill development, market linkages, and SHG networks.
- E.g., Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal provides entrepreneurship skills to women.
- Political Empowerment: Enhances leadership, decision-making, and political participation.
- E.g., Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) represents women workers of the informal economy.
- Poverty Alleviation & Rural Development: Strengthens livelihood security, reduces dependence on moneylenders, and promotes inclusive rural growth.
- E.g., Kudumbashree model of women-led poverty eradication and local governance.
- Social Reform: Helps combat social evils like child marriage, dowry, alcoholism, and gender discrimination through collective awareness and action.
Key Government Initiatives for Women SHGs
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