CHANDIGARH:
With more than 28,000 registrations already pouring in, the Bhagwant Mann Government is set to honour 14,100 women entrepreneurs across the state as part of its Women’s Day outreach, underscoring an aggressive push towards rural women-led growth. Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond announced that 100 top entrepreneurs will receive ₹25,000 each at a state level function on March 18, marking what the government describes as a large-scale recognition of women driven enterprise under the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM).
Reviewing preparations through video conferencing, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond stated, “The Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission is receiving an overwhelming response, with over 28,000 women registering for the felicitation events.” He directed officials to widely disseminate information about the series of events to ensure maximum participation and appealed to women entrepreneurs across the state to actively take part in the mega celebrations dedicated to women’s empowerment.
Outlining the state level programme, he continued, “The state level function will be held on March 18, 2026, during which the top 100 selected women entrepreneurs of Punjab will be awarded ₹25,000 each. The event will be live streamed at the district, block and gram panchayat levels to ensure that every village remains connected to the celebrations.”
Detailing the scale of the initiative, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said that felicitation events have already commenced at the block and constituency levels and will progress to the district level from March 12 before culminating in the state level function. He said, “From each constituency, 100 Self Help Group women entrepreneurs will be felicitated, totalling 11,700 women across the state. Similarly, from 23 districts, 2,300 women entrepreneurs will be honoured, with 100 from each district. At the state level, a committee will select the top 100 women entrepreneurs, who will be awarded ₹25,000 each.” In total, 14,100 women entrepreneurs will be honoured across Punjab.
Highlighting the broader impact of the mission, the Punjab Minister added, “PSRLM is working relentlessly to economically empower women from rural poor families by connecting them with Self Help Groups. Around 58,000 Self Help Groups are currently functioning in the state, with nearly six lakh rural women associated with them. The Punjab Government has provided a revolving fund of ₹30,000, a community investment fund of ₹50,000 and loan facilities at an interest rate of 7 percent to these beneficiaries.”
Emphasising the support framework, he further said that through the PSRLM, women are being provided financial assistance along with training, market linkages, banking support and access to social security schemes. These initiatives are enhancing the income of rural families and improving their social status.
Urging wider participation, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond emphasised, “All stakeholders must help economically empower more women by connecting them with Self Help Groups so that the dream of Sashakt Mahila, Sashakt Punjab can be realised.”
The video conference was attended by Administrative Secretary Ajit Balaji Joshi, Joint Development Commissioner Shena Aggarwal, Director Rural Development and Panchayat Uma Shankar Gupta and Nodal Officer Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission Ramandeep Sharma among others.
