Jaipur, March 8: Rajasthan’s Industry and Commerce Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Sunday said women are emerging as symbols of “resilience, results and revolution”, stressing that development led by women will shape the direction of a New India.
Speaking at a Women’s Felicitation Ceremony and discussion held at the Constitution Club of Rajasthan on the occasion of International Women's Day, Rathore said the **Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has significantly increased social awareness about girls’ education and empowerment.
He noted that since 2014, a new national discourse on women empowerment has emerged and women are now performing strongly across sectors, including industry and entrepreneurship. Rathore added that various schemes of the Rajasthan government are providing additional subsidies and incentives to encourage women to take up entrepreneurship.
Highlighting women’s role in economic growth, he said small enterprises run by women in villages and towns will play a key role in achieving the vision of Developed India 2047.
During the event, Rathore honoured 11 women entrepreneurs, athletes and achievers with Excellence Awards. The minister also distributed loan cheques to two women, approval letters to nine beneficiaries and RIICO land allotment letters to two women entrepreneurs. A daughter of a martyr was also handed an appointment letter for the post of Industry Extension Officer.
Beneficiary women entrepreneurs shared their experiences, stating that government schemes helped them receive financial support and opportunities to showcase products in domestic and international markets. Garment entrepreneur Dema Mittal said the state’s export promotion policy enabled her to exhibit products in the United States and secure new orders.
The programme also marked the launch of the “Kaushal Vahini – Skill on Wheels” initiative under the ODOP policy to provide two-day training for artisans.
The event was fully managed by women officers of the Industry Department. It was attended by senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Shikhar Agrawal, Commissioner Suresh Ola, and representatives from industry bodies such as FICCI FLO, CII Indian Women Network, and Laghu Udyog Bharati.
