Chandigarh, Feb 26: The Punjab government has announced a massive state-wide program to felicitate 14,100 women entrepreneurs on March 18 to mark International Women’s Day. Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond stated that the celebration under the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM) will include cash awards of ₹25,000 for each of the top 100 entrepreneurs selected at the state level.
During a press conference in Chandigarh, Minister Sond affirmed that the administration has successfully revitalized the economic standing of rural women. He declared that the Non-Performing Assets (NPA) of Self Help Groups (SHGs) have seen a sharp decline, dropping from 18 percent during previous regimes to 2.16 percent under the current government. The Minister maintained that this reduction is a testament to the financial discipline and timely repayment habits of the state’s female entrepreneurs.
The government has reordered its outreach strategy, adding over 2.9 lakh women to SHGs in just four years—a figure nearly equal to the total enrollment achieved over the preceding eleven years. Minister Sond asserted that there are now 58,000 active groups empowering six lakh rural women across Punjab. He stated that the government has increased revolving fund disbursements to ₹53.03 crore and facilitated bank loans amounting to ₹631.76 crore since 2022.
“The main objective is to make women from rural poor families economically strong,” the Minister declared. He affirmed that from each constituency, 100 women will be awarded, ensuring representation from every district. Beyond financial aid, the state is providing training, market linkages, and social security to ensure the long-term sustainability of these small enterprises.
Minister Sond maintained that the government’s efforts have improved the social status of rural families. He asserted that the administration remains committed to the vision of a “Sashakt Punjab” (Strong Punjab) by continuing to offer low-interest loans and interest-free assistance for livestock during emergencies like floods.
