Telangana gets first State Chapter of NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform

Telangana gets the first State chapter of NITI Aayog's Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) chapter, providing resources and support for women entrepreneurs.

Telangana has become the first State, in the country, to get a chapter of NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).

An initiative to promote and support women entrepreneurs across various sectors by providing them access to resources, tools and a network for enhancing their business growth, WEP thus far remained a scheme operated by the centre.

The WEP Telangana Chapter was launched in Hyderabad on Tuesday (October 1, 2024), by NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam in the presence of State IT and Industries secretary Jayesh Ranjan and co-chair of WEP Sangeetha Reddy. It is designed to foster entrepreneurship among women by offering customised support such as digital skilling, access to financial services, mentorship and market linkages, WE Hub - which will be the nodal body for the scheme in the State- said in a release.

WE Hub, a first-of-its-kind incubation centre in India exclusively for women entrepreneurs, will act as the central body responsible for implementation and management of this platform, leveraging its expertise and extensive network in empowering women entrepreneurs.

Women’s entrepreneurship key to economic future

Mr. Subrahmanyam underscored how women entrepreneurship is key to India’s economic future and the State Chapter is poised to significantly enhance opportunities for women. He highlighted the need for such initiatives considering multiple challenges women entrepreneurs face, especially in terms of finances, mentoring and marketing. The base WEP and the State Chapters will provide is bound to help elevate SHG women businesses and build high quality brands through the platform.

Principal Economic Advisor to NITI Aayog and WEP mission director Anna Roy said the power of motivation, knowledge and action are pillars of WEP to empower women entrepreneurs. There are plans to expand to tier 2 and 3 cities through the WEP in States initiative, partnering with States to build an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Such a hub-and-spoke model will create a thriving support system for women entrepreneurs, she said.