Context:
Recently, NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) launched EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan in partnership with New Shop (India’s largest 24/7 convenience retail chain), under the Award to Reward (ATR) program.
- The initiative will select 50 participants aged 18–35 through an online application, based on specific criteria.
- The top 20 will receive a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees, enabling them to own and operate their retail businesses with reduced barriers.
- The program targets women from Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
Objective
- To empower women entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills and resources needed to succeed in the organized retail sector.
- To create a robust retail ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs and drives sustainable growth in the sector.
- To help women overcome challenges like societal biases, limited financing, and lack of mentorship
- About WEP:
- Incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018, and transitioned to a public-private partnership in 2022.
- Aims to empower women entrepreneurs by addressing information asymmetry and offering support across key areas:
- Access to Finance
- Market Linkages
- Training & Skilling
- Mentoring & Networking
- Compliance & Legal Assistance
- Business Development Services
- Since 2023, the ‘Award to Reward’ initiative offers a framework for stakeholders to design impactful programs.
- About New Shop:
- Operates 200+ convenience retail stores in high-density areas, highways, and gas stations.
- Plans to expand into airports and railway stations and present in 35 cities across 18 states.
- Aim to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs in India by 2030 through a franchising model.