Why in news?
To promote economic independence among women, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) launched the Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojna and the Nandini Sahakar scheme. The schemes aim to provide affordable credit and capacity‑building support to women‑led cooperatives and self‑help groups.
Background and rationale
Cooperatives are democratic enterprises owned and managed by their members. In rural India, women’s self‑help groups often struggle to access formal credit and business training. Empowering these groups aligns with the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self‑reliant India) and gender equality goals. By tailoring financial products and support services to women‑led cooperatives, the NCDC hopes to boost incomes and create sustainable livelihoods.
Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojna
- The scheme offers low‑interest loans to women‑led primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), district and state cooperative banks and federated self‑help groups.
- It encourages collective economic activities such as food processing, dairy, handicrafts and agro‑marketing, so that women can earn together and share profits.
- Access to credit is combined with training in financial management and entrepreneurship.
Nandini Sahakar
- This scheme provides a holistic support system beyond credit. It offers capacity‑building programmes, help in preparing business plans and subsidies on interest.
- It covers all economic sectors except urban housing. Areas like dairy, poultry, fisheries, small manufacturing and services are eligible.
- The focus is on creating enterprises owned and led by women, thereby fostering leadership and decision‑making skills.
Significance
- These schemes help women access formal finance without collateral, reducing dependence on informal moneylenders.
- They encourage women to diversify into non‑farm activities, which is important for income stability as agriculture becomes increasingly climate sensitive.
- By linking credit with training, the schemes aim to improve the success rate of women‑run enterprises.
- Supporting cooperatives promotes collective bargaining power and democratic management, aligning with cooperative principles.
Conclusion
Financial inclusion of women is essential for inclusive growth. Through targeted credit and capacity‑building initiatives, Swayamshakti Sahakar and Nandini Sahakar can help rural women turn their ideas into sustainable businesses and strengthen the cooperative movement.