GeM: Savitri lists role of NCUI in preparing women entrepreneurs

Savitri Singh, Deputy Chief Executive of NCUI was the Chief Guest at a function held to commemorate the success of “Womaniya on Government eMarketplace (GeM)” at Constitution Club in New Delhi.

Launched in 2019, “Womaniya” initiative at GeM seeks to encourage the participation of women entrepreneurs and SHG on GeM. Over 1.44 lakh Womaniya MSE on GEM have fulfilled over 14 lakh orders worth Rs 21,265 Crore, reads a PIB release.

Speaking at the event, Savitri Singh emphasized the contribution of women as entrepreneurs in the society and shared the initiatives of NCUI in boosting their employability.

Ms Singh mentioned Cooperative Education Field Projects tailored towards the socio-economic growth of women through advocacy, outreach, mobilization and capacity-building of women from SHGs to Cooperative Societies in North East and underdeveloped areas of India.

Dr. R.K. Singh, and Dr Ishita Ganguli Tripathi, also addressed the audience and briefed the attendees about the various Government schemes available through SIDBI and the Ministry of MSME for the benefit of women entrepreneurs.

The event was held by GeM in partnership with Self-Employed Women’s Association, Bharat (SEWA Bharat) and attended by women entrepreneurs and participants from stakeholder organizations and associations.

Highlights of the event included presentations on financial literacy by Smt. Piya Bahadur, Co-founder & CEO, MeraBills, presentation by Smt. Sanchita Mitra, National Coordinator, SEWA Bharat on the new opportunities created for women entrepreneurs within the informal economy through digital inclusion, short film on GeM seller testimonials, “Voices from the Ground” by SEWA Bharat and informal discussion by policy experts on “Womaniya in public procurement”.

The objective of “Womaniya” is to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society who face challenges in accessing public procurement markets, and work towards achieving gender inclusive economic growth of under-served seller groups such as such as women-owned and led MSEs, tribal entrepreneurs, Divyangjan, Startups, SHGs, artisan and weavers.

GeM has inked memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) to train, assist and enable women-led micro and small enterprises, women entrepreneurs and SHGs in public procurement.

Last-mile stakeholders such as Local Bodies, Cooperative Societies, Panchayati Raj institutions, among others and stakeholders’ such as corporates, private companies, colleges, scientific and technical research institutions, and universities, among others in public procurement will benefit from the growth and the success of the “Womaniya” initiative.