MoRD Hosts National Workshop to Scale Women Enterprises via Public Procurement

In a major push to embed women-led enterprises into India's government supply chains, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), in collaboration with PCI India, organised a National Learning Dissemination Workshop on "Scaling Women Enterprises through Public Procurement."

The workshop convened State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), senior officials from key Ministries, development partners, CSR leaders, and industry stakeholders to chart a scalable roadmap for integrating Self-Help Group (SHG) enterprises into public procurement systems.

Public Procurement as a Strategic Lever for Women's Empowerment

Delivering the Special Address, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, emphasized that women's economic empowerment is not welfare 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 noted that as the world's fastest-growing major economy, India's transformation is deeply powered by women's participation in the economy.

He highlighted public procurement as a powerful policy instrument, enabling the State to:

• Use purchasing power transparently and inclusively

• Strengthen accountability and quality standards

• Create reliable market access for Women-Led Enterprises (WLEs)

SHG Integration into Procurement Now a Strategic Priority

Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, DAY-NRLM, underlined that linking SHG products and services with public procurement systems has become a strategic priority for the Ministry.

He stated that coordinated efforts across Ministries, States, and institutional partners will be undertaken to ensure systematic onboarding of SHG enterprises into procurement frameworks at scale.

Launch of Dedicated Microsite and Sector Playbooks

On the occasion, the Secretary, Rural Development launched a dedicated microsite designed as a comprehensive roadmap to support WLEs in establishing and operationalising enterprises across India.

Three sector-specific playbooks were also unveiled, focusing on:

• Housekeeping & Laundry Services

• Food Processing Enterprises

• Apparel Manufacturing Units

Additionally, a coffee table book documenting enterprise journeys and institutional learnings was released, capturing best practices and scalable models from across States.

Strong Institutional and Development Partner Presence

The event witnessed participation from senior officials including:

• Smt. Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary, DAY-NRLM

• Smt. Rajeshwari S.M., Director, DAY-NRLM

• Shri Charanjeet Singh, Former Additional Secretary, DAY-NRLM

• Smt. Neha Giri (IAS), State Mission Director, Rajasthan SRLM

Global development institutions such as the World Bank and the Gates Foundation were also represented, reflecting strong international interest in India's women-led rural enterprise model.

Ground-Level Voices: SHG Entrepreneurs Share Success Stories

Women entrepreneurs from Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Bihar shared first-hand experiences of engaging with public procurement systems. Their testimonies highlighted:

• Pathways for scaling production

• Quality assurance mechanisms

• Institutional support structures

• Long-term sustainability models

These case studies demonstrated how SHG enterprises can evolve into credible and competitive suppliers within government procurement ecosystems.

Advancing Inclusive Growth under Viksit Bharat

The workshop aimed to catalyse collaborative action among policymakers, implementing agencies, and market stakeholders to accelerate women's economic empowerment.

By positioning SHG enterprises as reliable suppliers in public procurement systems, the initiative contributes directly to inclusive, gender-responsive rural development aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision.

With over 8 crore women mobilised under DAY-NRLM nationwide, strengthening procurement linkages could unlock significant economic value, institutional credibility, and sustainable livelihoods across rural India.