MoRD Hosts National Workshop To Scale Women Enterprises Through Public Procurement

New Delhi, Feb 18 (KNN) The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), in collaboration with PCI India, organised a National Learning Dissemination Workshop on ‘Scaling Women Enterprises through Public Procurement’ in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The workshop brought together representatives from State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), key central ministries, development partners, CSR leaders and industry stakeholders. 

The focus was on showcasing successful models of Self-Help Group (SHG) enterprises engaging with public procurement systems and strengthening institutional pathways for Women-Led Enterprises (WLEs) to participate in government supply chains at scale.

Public Procurement as a Strategic Lever

Delivering the special address, Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, stated that women’s economic empowerment is not merely a welfare measure but a strategic investment in India’s growth, resilience and social stability.

Speaking on ‘Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment under Viksit Bharat: Policy Direction for WLEs and SHGs,’ he emphasised that India’s economic progress reflects deeper social transformation driven by women. 

He highlighted public procurement as a powerful tool through which the State can deploy its purchasing power in a transparent and inclusive manner while strengthening quality and accountability through women-led enterprises.

T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, DAY-NRLM, underscored that linking SHG products and services with public procurement systems is now a strategic priority. He noted that coordinated efforts across ministries, states and partners will be undertaken to ensure systematic integration of SHG enterprises into procurement processes.

Launch of Microsite and Sector Playbooks

On the occasion, the Secretary, Rural Development, launched a dedicated microsite intended to serve as a roadmap for WLEs in establishing and operationalising enterprises across the country.

Three sector-specific playbooks focusing on housekeeping and laundry, food processing, and apparel enterprises were also unveiled. In addition, a coffee table book documenting enterprise journeys and institutional learnings was released.

The workshop aimed to catalyse collaborative action, accelerate women’s economic empowerment and position SHG enterprises as credible suppliers within government procurement ecosystems, contributing to inclusive and gender-responsive rural development under the Viksit Bharat vision.

(KNN Bureau)