The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has launched the Indira Mahila Shakti scheme, a ₹410 crore initiative designed to establish 7,000 women-owned enterprises across the city. This ambitious programme follows the success of the Mahalakshmi free bus scheme and is part of the state government’s broader effort to empower women and bolster their economic participation.
Under the scheme, GHMC plans to facilitate the creation of 1,000 group enterprises and 6,000 individual enterprises within its jurisdiction. The group enterprises, distributed across 30 municipal circles, will each receive financial assistance of ₹20 lakh, while individual entrepreneurs will be supported with ₹3.5 lakh. This financial backing is expected to significantly reduce the barriers to entry for women entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary capital to launch and sustain their businesses.
The GHMC has committed to supporting these women-led enterprises through a combination of financial aid from banks and subsidies offered by various state and central government schemes. This multi-pronged approach aims to ease the repayment burden on beneficiaries and ensure that the enterprises remain financially viable in the long term. According to a senior official from GHMC, the scheme is meticulously structured to provide not just financial support but also the necessary infrastructure and training to enable women to thrive as entrepreneurs.
In addition to financial support, the GHMC has outlined plans to offer targeted training programmes for the beneficiaries. These training sessions will focus on enhancing skills relevant to the specific businesses chosen by the women, ensuring that they are well-prepared to manage their enterprises effectively. Furthermore, the corporation is taking proactive steps to secure orders for these enterprises, particularly in areas like uniform stitching, which is expected to provide a steady stream of revenue for the new businesses. Another innovative aspect of the Indira Mahila Shakti scheme is the development of a mobile app by GHMC, which will serve as a service provider platform for gated communities. This app will enable residents to access a range of services such as baby day care centres, domestic help, and maintenance services, thereby creating additional business opportunities for the women entrepreneurs supported under the scheme.
The focus areas for group enterprises include a variety of sectors such as Swashakti canteens, catering services, food processing units, cold storages, and MeeSeva centres. These sectors have been strategically chosen to leverage the existing demand within the city and provide sustainable business models for the women involved. Similarly, the businesses proposed for individual enterprises include vegetable stalls, dairy product outlets, mike and sound equipment rentals, and beauty and wellness centres—areas that offer substantial growth potential in Hyderabad’s dynamic urban economy. The GHMC’s strategic action plan underscores its commitment to transforming women from economically weaker sections into successful entrepreneurs. By providing a robust support system encompassing financial aid, training, and market access, the Indira Mahila Shakti scheme is poised to make a significant impact on women’s economic empowerment in Hyderabad, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable urban economy.
