Assam launches entrepreneurship support scheme for women

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gestures during the launch of the state’s Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan.
| Photo Credit: X/@himantabiswa via PTI Photo

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Assam Government on Tuesday (April 1, 2025) launched a major entrepreneurship support scheme for women.

The ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan’ or Chief Minister Women Entrepreneurship Campaign, billed as the “biggest” initiative of its kind, entails a three-stage financial assistance for women.

Women are a potent voting force for the BJP in Assam, where Assembly elections are a year away.

“With the blessings of our mothers and sisters, today we launched the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan, providing ₹10,000 as seed capital to women to boost self-employment opportunities,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Mr. Sarma said each eligible woman will get ₹25,000 in the second year upon meaningful utilisation of the seed capital. Half this amount would be given as Government support and half as a loan at a nominal interest rate.

He said each beneficiary would be given ₹50,000 in the third year after fulfilling the conditions in the second year.

“The initiative is designed to catalyse micro-level entrepreneurship, ensuring financial independence and economic uplift for women across the State,” he said.

He also highlighted the State’s multi-layered strategy to tap “women power” at every stage of life – from free schooling and livelihood support to old-age pensions and free food grains.

Among the beneficiary schemes for women is Orunodoi, under which ₹1,250 each is transferred to the accounts of women in 37.2 lakh families with an annual income of less than ₹2 lakh. The scheme costs the State Government ₹467 crore per month.

The Opposition Congress said the State Government, which has been borrowing heavily, should come clean on the source of funding for a slew of beneficiary schemes it said were designed with an eye on the upcoming polls – the panchayat this year and the Assembly next year.