News: A new Women's Entrepreneurship Council for women entrepreneurs on the cards

Entrepreneurship

A new Women's Entrepreneurship Council for women entrepreneurs on the cards

The council will be formed on the lines of industry body CII and will function as a networking as well as mentorship platform for aspiring entrepreneurs.
A new Women's Entrepreneurship Council for women entrepreneurs on the cards

The women and child development ministry will soon set up Women's Entrepreneurship Council as part of an effort to support women businesspersons.

Being proposed by women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi, the council will be formed on the lines of industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). As per ministry officials, it will function as networking as well as mentorship platform for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

The council will have established women entrepreneurs on its board to guide and help build an ecosystem for helping raise credit for small businesses. The board will also function as a national advisory council that will advise the government on issues related to women's entrepreneurship.

As per a senior ministry official, the formation of the council is in its final stages and we will bring a cabinet note soon for approval. The ministry is looking at making the council a go-to point for women looking at setting up their businesses and needing help for it.

Interestingly, though the Niti Aayog had launched a similar platform, called 'Women Entrepreneurs Platform', last year, officials in the ministry said Gandhi was keen on forming a larger platform with greater reach across the country.

LinkedIn data shows that India, which has historically lagged in hiring women into leadership positions, has gained significant momentum with the largest percentage increase being hired into leadership roles (25%). Women entrepreneurs in India need all the boost they can to raise the number of employed women in the country as well as bridge the gender gap. How instrumental will this council be in building an ecosystem that supports and encourages women will be something we will be keenly looking at.

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Topics: Entrepreneurship

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