EDP Notes

Women empowerment should be one of the primary goals of a society. Women should be
given equality, right of decision-making and entitlements in terms of dignity. They should attain
economic independence. The most important step to achieve women empowerment is to create
awareness among women themselves. Development of women can be achieved through health,
education and economic independence. Realizing the importance of women entrepreneurs, Govt. of
India has taken a number of measures to assist them. Some of the important measures are outlined
as follows:
1) TRYSEM: Training of Rural Youth For Self Employment was launched on 15th August
1979 which is still continuing. The objective of TRYSEM is to provide technical skills to rural
youth between 18 and 35 years of age from families below the poverty line to enable them to take
up self employment in agriculture and allied activities, industries, services and business activities.
This is a sub scheme of IRDP. Training given through ITIs, Polytechnics, Krishi Vigyan Kendra,
Nehru Yuva Kendras etc has helped many rural women set up their own micro entreprises with
IRDP assistance.
2) BANKS: Banks particularly commercial banks have formulated several schemes to
benefit women entrepreneurs. These includes Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programmes
and other Training programmes, promotion of rural non-farm enterprise, women ventures etc.
3) NABARD: NABARD as an apex institution guides and assists commercial banks in
paying special attention to women beneficiaries while financing. It has also been providing
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT 22
refinance to commercial banks so as to help the latter institutions to supplement their resources
which could be deployed for the purpose of financing women beneficiaries.
4) INDUSTRIAL POLICY: The new Industrial policy of Government has specially
highlighted the need for conducting special entrepreneurship programme for women.
5) INSTITUTIONS AND VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION: Several voluntary agencies
like FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO), National Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (NAYE)
and others assist women entrepreneurs.
NAYE has been a leading institution engaged in the promotion and development of
entrepreneurship among women. It convened a conference of women entrepreneurs in November
1975. It assists the women entrepreneurs in:
(a) Getting better access to capital, infrastructure and markets.
(b) Identifying investment opportunities.
(c) Developing managerial and productive capabilities.
(d) Attending to problems by taking up individual cases with appropriate authorities.
(e) Sponsoring participation in trade fairs, exhibitions, special conference etc.
6) NATIONAL POLICY FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, 2001: As to the
commitments made by India during the Fourth World Conference on women held in Beijing during
September, 1995, the Department of women and children has drafted a national policy for the
empowerment of women. This is meant to enhance the status of women in all walks of life at par
with men.