Fostering Entrepreneurship among Women

Introduction

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, through its new initiative on pilot basis in collaboration with Indo-US Science and Technology Forum and Anita Borg Institute, has sent a group of Indian women tech entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley in the US to help them understand the entrepreneurial culture there. Women tech entrepreneurs were shortlisted by DST and Anita Borg Institute through the Annual Women Entrepreneur’s Quest Program. 

Six women tech entrepreneurs were selected for this purpose. 

The delegation of women tech entrepreneur’s visited Silicon Valley, US from 13 April to 17 April 2015. An amount of Rs. 28.31 lakhs was earmarked for this program. 

The Government has taken many steps to promote entrepreneurship among women. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has been implementing Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) Scheme for Women. The scheme envisages economic empowerment exclusively of women through trade related training, information and counseling extension activities related to trades, products, services etc. Under the Scheme financial loans are provided by Nationalized Banks and grants by Government of India at the rate of 30% of the loan subject to maximum limit of Rs.30.00 lakh through NGOs for capacity building and for undertaking self-employment ventures by women in non-farm activities. The Department of Science and Technology also supports organizations in the conduct of Women Entrepreneurship Development Program (WEDP) aimed at building capacity of women with science and technology background in the area of entrepreneurship. 

This was stated by the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S.Chowdary in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. 

Source

Press Information Bureau, April 29, 2015