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Himachal triples women’s self-employment loans to Rs 3 lakh; See how Northern states are supporting women entrepreneurs
Harviinder Kaur
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), February 4, 2026: In a move aimed at boosting income opportunities for women and encouraging entrepreneurship, the Himachal Pradesh government has increased the self-employment loan limit from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh under the Women Development Corporation’s schemes, officials said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken at the 52nd Board of Directors meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Women Development Corporation chaired by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Col. Dhani Ram Shandil.
The enhanced loan limit, aimed at helping women start or expand businesses, comes alongside an increase in interest-free education loans for girls from ₹75,000 to ₹3 lakh — a major boost for higher education support.
Himachal’s Self-Employment Loan Growth
Under the updated scheme, women can now access loans up to ₹3 lakh for self-employment ventures. Previously capped at ₹1 lakh, this increase responds to rising costs and aspirations among women seeking to start viable enterprises.
How Other Northern States Compare
Across northern India, several states have devised their own financial support frameworks for women entrepreneurs:
• Punjab: Under the Punjab Rozgar Scheme 2025, aspiring entrepreneurs — including women — can apply for loans starting at ₹1 lakh, with the upper limit varying by business type, reaching into higher credit tiers for eligible enterprises. The scheme also offers subsidised interest rates and streamlined online access for applicants.
• Haryana: The Haryana Women Development Corporation has launched initiatives that provide loans up to ₹3 lakh to widows and other women to start income-generating activities, with interest subsidies and training components.
• Uttarakhand: The state’s Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojna has disbursed over ₹33 crore to nearly 3,850 beneficiaries, offering loans up to ₹25 lakh for manufacturing units and ₹10 lakh for service businesses, encouraging broader entrepreneurship that includes women.
• Rajasthan: Rajasthan’s Mahila Nidhi programme has secured a ₹3,000 crore boost from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to benefit women self-help groups, with fast-disbursed loans helping rural women start businesses and manage livelihood needs.
State Goals and Broader Push
Officials said that enhancing women’s access to business finance will not only help boost household incomes but also promote gender-inclusive economic growth. Himachal’s Women Development Corporation has previously disbursed over ₹69 crore to more than 13,500 women, including interest subsidies to support borrowers.
The board also reviewed programmes focused on women’s welfare, skill development, employment generation, training and awareness, stressing transparent and timely delivery of benefits to eligible women across the state.
“Strengthening financial support for women entrepreneurs is crucial for inclusive development and meaningful self-reliance,” the minister said, adding that the government will continue to expand effective schemes in the coming years.