On August 18, Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje informed the Rajya Sabha that the Udyam Sakhi Portal has been enabling women entrepreneurs to start, expand, and sustain businesses across India. Developed by the Institute for Design of Electrical Measuring Instruments (IDEMI) at a cost of Rs 43.52 lakh, the portal was launched on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2018, as a dedicated space for women to access entrepreneurship-related resources in one place.
“The initiative makes entrepreneurship accessible and less intimidating, especially for first-generation women entrepreneurs, helping them move towards self-reliance,” Karandlaje stated.
What the Udyam Sakhi portal offers
The portal functions as a comprehensive support system, guiding women from ideation to market expansion.
Key services include:
1. Access to financial schemes such as PMEGP, CGTMSE, MUDRA, and TReDS.
2. Updates on policies and programmes of MSME and other ministries.
3. Guidance on business plan preparation to help secure funding.
4. Details of nodal offices and support organisations across states.
5. Information about exhibitions, trade fairs, and international events, providing crucial market linkages.
So far, 4,535 women have registered on the portal, showing a steady rise in women opting for government-backed entrepreneurship pathways.
Strengthening Atma Nirbharta and global outreach
Beyond offering information, the portal connects women entrepreneurs with buyers, investors, and international markets. Promoting participation in trade fairs and global exhibitions, it ensures that women-led enterprises get visibility and access to wider markets.
This aligns with the government’s broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, where women-led development is seen as central to achieving a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Complementary MSME schemes for women
To complement Udyam Sakhi, the Ministry of MSME runs several schemes focused on women-led enterprises:
1. Mahila Coir Yojana: Financial aid in coir industry with subsidy up to Rs 7,500.
2. MSE-CDP: Cluster development for small enterprises.
3. Tool Rooms & Technology Centres: Skill training support.
4. SFURTI: Regeneration of traditional industries.
5. Procurement & Marketing Support Scheme: Expanding buyer-seller networks.
6. ESDP: Entrepreneurship and skill development programmes.
7. CLCS-TUS: Technology upgradation subsidies.
These schemes are giving women not only credit and subsidies but also skills and technology to expand sustainably.
To make credit accessible, the government has backed several loan schemes exclusively for women entrepreneurs:
1. Mudra Yojana: 8.15 to 12.8 percent per annum for small businesses.
2. Stand-Up India: MCLR + tenor premium + <3 percent (RLLR-based) for SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
3. Udyam Shakti Linked Loans: From 10.25 percent per annum for loans under Rs 10 lakh.
4. CGTMSE: Collateral-free loans, 8.25 to 12 percent (SBI offers ~7.5 percent).
Toward Viksit Bharat 2047
Since its inception in 2018, the Udyam Sakhi Portal has become more than a digital platform, it has grown into a movement for women’s economic empowerment. By providing credit, mentorship, market access, and global opportunities, it is not only helping women achieve self-reliance but also contributing significantly to India’s roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047.
As Minister Karandlaje put it, initiatives like Udyam Sakhi are “building an ecosystem where women are not job seekers but job creators”, setting the stage for a stronger, inclusive economy.
