The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Government of India is actively fostering an environment conducive to rural entrepreneurship, recognizing the importance of access to finance, infrastructure, and market opportunities. The Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, outlined several initiatives in a recent statement, highlighting the government’s commitment to this cause.
A key initiative is the collaboration between the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to create the “SARAS Collection,” a storefront in GeM for marketing products produced by women self-help groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY NRLM). Additionally, MoRD has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various online platforms such as Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., Amazon, Patanjali, and Fashnear Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Meesho) to facilitate the onboarding and marketing of SHG products. The ministry has also launched an e-commerce platform (www.esaras.in) and application for the online marketing of these products. Several states have developed their e-commerce platforms to support SHG products, which are also marketed through stores and SARAS Fairs at national and state levels.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is contributing to these efforts by promoting Micro Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (MEDPs) and Livelihood & Enterprise Development Programmes (LEDPs). These programs focus on financial support and skill development for rural entrepreneurs of SHGs.
NABARD introduced a scheme in June 2023 to grant support to SHGs, Joint Liability Group (JLGs), Producer Organizations (POs), and Micro-entrepreneurs for training, onboarding, and marketing products on online/digital marketplaces, including E-commerce, social media platforms, and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This initiative aims to enhance the income of these groups by facilitating their access to online markets.
Moreover, Off Farm Producer Organizations (OFPOs) are being assisted in onboarding onto ONDC, which is designed to promote open networks for digital and electronic exchange of goods and services.
The country has 591 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) that provide skill and entrepreneurship development training to rural unemployed youth, helping them to start self-employment units or activities. The MoRD reimburses the cost of training imparted by RSETIs through State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs).
Additionally, NABARD’s ‘Skill Development Programmes’ address skill gaps in rural India through multiple stakeholders in the skill development ecosystem. These interventions provide a wide range of skill development training to rural youth, offering job opportunities and contributing to the economy by setting up rural enterprises.
These comprehensive measures by the government are aimed at empowering rural entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, by providing them with the necessary skills, financial support, and market access. This initiative not only boosts rural entrepreneurship but also contributes significantly to the overall socio-economic development of rural areas in India.