The first edition of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) – NITI Aayog State Workshop Series, dedicated to fostering women-led development through entrepreneurship, unfolded at the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Auditorium in Goa. This collaborative workshop, held in conjunction with the Government of Goa, placed a special emphasis on empowering the western region of India.
With over 500 participants, including women entrepreneurs, local self-help groups (SHGs), government officials, industry representatives, incubators/accelerators, financial institutions, philanthropic foundations, and more, the workshop aimed to initiate discussions around a hub-and-spoke model that would extend women-led development to the grassroots, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Dr. Pramod Sawant, the Honorable Chief Minister of the Government of Goa, announced that the Goa State Vision 2047 would be formulated with the support of NITI Aayog.
Swayampurna Goa Initiative
Celebrating the third anniversary of the Swayampurna Goa initiative, Dr. Sawant underscored its focus on skill development and the deployment of “Swayampurna Grameen Mitras” for the doorstep delivery of government services in every block and Panchayat.
Swayampurna E-bazaar
Additionally, the Chief Minister acknowledged the significant role of women in socio-economic progress and revealed plans for the launch of the Swayampurna e-bazaar during Dussehra. This initiative is aimed at expanding market access through Common Service Centres.
Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog, emphasized the agency’s commitment to cooperative federalism and stressed the critical priorities of maintaining the employment-to-education ratio, promoting women’s entrepreneurship, and restructuring the workforce.
B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, reiterated NITI Aayog’s dedication to assisting state governments in establishing entities similar to NITI Aayog within their respective states. These entities, whether standalone institutions or integrated departments, will serve as central hubs for forward-looking planning and strategic thinking, staffed by dedicated personnel devoted to their mission.
The event also witnessed the announcement of several new collaborations to support women entrepreneurs, including partnerships with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the launch of Udyam Uplift, an initiative by CAxpert aimed at strengthening compliance among women-led businesses. Furthermore, the first two cohorts under WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) initiative were introduced, promising to empower green entrepreneurs across India and foster innovation under the guidance of Atal Incubation Centre – Goa Institute of Management.
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform’s workshop in Goa signifies a significant stride toward creating an environment where women-led development and entrepreneurship flourish, not only in Goa but across the nation. Through collaboration and unwavering dedication, India is advancing toward a more inclusive and empowered future.