The inaugural edition of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) – NITI Aayog State Workshop Series on Enabling Women-led Development through Entrepreneurship was held at the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Auditorium in Goa on 3rd October, 2023. This significant workshop, conducted in collaboration with the Government of Goa, placed a spotlight on women’s entrepreneurship, aiming to extend its impact to grassroots levels.
The workshop drew over 500 participants, bringing together women entrepreneurs, local self-help groups (SHGs), government officials, industry representatives, incubators/accelerators, financial institutions, philanthropic foundations, and more. The primary focus was on deliberating a hub-and-spoke model to foster women-led development across the western region of India, reaching even the most remote areas.
Eminent dignitaries graced the event, including Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog, and Shri B.V.R Subramanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog.
Goa’s Vision 2047
Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, announced that the state’s Vision 2047 would be prepared with support from NITI Aayog. He highlighted the three-year milestone of the Swayampurna Goa initiative, focusing on skill development and deploying “Swayampurna Grameen Mitras” to deliver government services at every block and Panchayat. Dr. Sawant emphasized the pivotal role of women in socio-economic progress and unveiled plans for the Swayampurna e-bazaar during Dussehra, expanding market access through Common Service Centres.
NITI Aayog’s Priorities
Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog, stressed the significance of states in driving the nation’s growth. He outlined three key priorities: maintaining the employment-to-education ratio, promoting women’s entrepreneurship, and workforce restructuring.
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, reaffirmed the central government’s unwavering commitment to women-led development. He urged states to establish institutions similar to NITI Aayog, emphasizing their role as the central point for future planning.
A series of collaborations were unveiled to bolster women entrepreneurs, including a partnership between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and NITI Aayog. The launch of “Udyam Uplift,” an initiative by CAxpert, aims to strengthen compliance among women-led businesses. Additionally, the first two cohorts under WEP’s “Award to Reward” (ATR) initiative were announced. The WEP-Unnati cohort, led by partners Microsave Consulting and SIDBI, is accepting applications from green entrepreneurs nationwide. The second cohort, “WeNurture,” will be led by the Atal Incubation Centre at the Goa Institute of Management.
This workshop marks a significant step towards empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering their development in the western region of India, aligning with the broader goals of NITI Aayog and the Government of Goa.