India launches second phase of rural women entrepreneurship drive

India's Ministry of Rural Development on Friday launched the second phase of its entrepreneurship campaign, marking a renewed push to convert informal livelihoods into sustainable enterprises among rural women. The initiative, unveiled on World Entrepreneurs Day by Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal, will run from August 21 to November 21.

Building on lessons from its first phase, the campaign focuses on strengthening farm and non-farm enterprises while facilitating business formalisation and product marketing for self-help groups (SHGs). The government has set ambitious targets including providing entrepreneurship and livelihood training to five lakh SHG women and supporting the formalisation of 50,000 enterprises during the campaign period.

The drive supports India's broader objective of creating six crore 'Lakhpati Didis'—women entrepreneurs with a net annual income exceeding one lakh rupees. The second phase emphasises enhanced enterprise mentoring, strengthening of producer institutions, and streamlined implementation processes to accelerate progress toward this goal.

Officals indicated the campaign would concentrate on simplifying procedures and providing hands-on support to ensure women-led ventures achieve financial viability and market access. The initiative reflects the government's commitment to leveraging self-help groups as engines of rural economic development and women's empowerment.