PR No – 167
26th September, 2024
New Delhi
Minister for Consumer Affairs commends PHDCCI work on skilling for women entrepreneurship.
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) hosted the 2nd National Skill Summit: Her Enterprise हर दिन, at PHD House, New Delhi on 25th September 2024. The summit, which was inaugurated by Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, academicians, and non-profit organizations to foster dialogue on skill development and entrepreneurship among women.
Among the speakers present at the summit were Dr. Vinita Aggarwal, Executive Member, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET); Ms. Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) & Director General of the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD); Mr. Ajay Khanna, Chair, Skill and Entrepreneurship Committee at PHDCCI; Dr. Aruna Oswal, Chair, Women and Child Development Committee at PHDCCI; Ms. Archana Aggarwal, Co-Chair, Women and Child Development Committee, PHDCCI and Ms. Niharika Vasumitra, Product Manager and Category Lead for Open Network for Education and Skill Transformations (ONEST) at the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The Summit aimed at addressing challenges, exploring opportunities, and providing support for women entrepreneurs to empower them in India’s evolving economy.
Smt. Bambhaniya lauded the progress made by women in India, stating that women have proven their capabilities across diverse fields, “from stitching clothes to flying planes“, for women even sky is not the limit, but they can aim beyond it. She highlighted government initiatives that have significantly empowered women, such as the PM Mudra Yojana, which has facilitated loans for women entrepreneurs. With a raised loan limit from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, this program is transforming women from job seekers to job creators.
Dr. Vinita Aggarwal highlighted India’s demographic dividend of 450 million workers but stressed that employment opportunities are tied to skill levels. She emphasized the crucial role of the MSME sector, responsible for 45% of the country’s economic output, in promoting women entrepreneurs. Despite the vibrant startup ecosystem, only 8 million of India’s 58 million MSMEs are women-owned. Dr. Aggarwal praised government initiatives like the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and National Education Policy (NEP 2020), which aim to integrate vocational training with education to empower women.
Ms. Hena Usman, emphasized the need for a comprehensive ecosystem to mentor women entrepreneurs. She spoke about a 21-week mentorship program which Niesbud runs to help women build creditworthy businesses and access loans. Ms. Usman also advocated for a stronger marketing platform for women to sell their products and encouraged industry participation in mentorship and collaboration to uplift women entrepreneurs.
Mr. Ajay Khanna, focused on upskilling women to unlock their potential. He emphasized sectors like health and wellness, where women can become financially independent through direct selling. Mr. Khanna acknowledged the challenges women face in the MSME sector, such as limited capital access, but praised government initiatives like Skill India and Startup India for bridging these gaps.
Dr. Aruna Oswal stressed that empowering women through skill development and entrepreneurship strengthens families and communities. She highlighted past PHDCCI events like the Spotlight Red event with UNESCO, focusing on menstrual health, and announced plans for future women empowerment events.
Ms. Archana Aggarwal, Co-Chair of the Women and Child Development Committee, emphasized the need for practical skills in addition to traditional education. She explained that while formal education provides a foundation, skilling equips women to succeed in today’s competitive world. She praised the summit for showcasing women’s entrepreneurial skills and underscored the importance of equipping women with the necessary skills to thrive in their respective fields.
Ms. Niharika Vasumitra from ONEST explained the role that the open network is playing in connecting buyers and sellers, allowing small businesses to compete with larger vendors and providing all options for skilling, scholarships, internships and jobs at one place. ONEST facilitates sector-specific certifications and enables both blue-collar and grey-collar jobs, fostering job creation for women.
The Summit saw active participation from various industry and academic institutions, including IASC Sector Skill Council, GB Pant Institute of Technology, DSEU Shakarpur Campus, Bhai Paramanand DSEU Siri Fort, NSUT, JNU, DU and YWCA, among others. These collaborations highlighted the collective effort to promote skill development and entrepreneurship for women across different sectors.
The Summit was supported by Herbalife along with PHDCCI annual sponsors, DLF Ltd; Jindal Steel & Power; KLJ Group; Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Marble City; MMG Group; Radico Khaitan Ltd; Uflex Ltd; Vestige; Eazy ERP Technologies; JK Tyre & Industries Ltd; Sagar Group of Industries; Superior Industries Limited; Samsung India Electronics; Oswal Greentech; Apeejay Stya Group; Blossom Kochhar Beauty Products Pvt Ltd; DCM Shriram; R E Rogers; Trident Group; Ajit Industries Pvt Ltd; Bhagwati Plastic and Pipes Industries; Central Coalfields Ltd; DD Pharmaceutical Ltd.; Hindware Sanitary; Jindal Steel; Modern Automobiles; P S BEDI & Co.
*END*
Warm Regards,
Media Division
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry