Punjab to honour 14,100 women entrepreneurs; 100 to get Rs 25,000 each on March 18
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 3, 2026: With over 28,000 registrations already received, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government is set to felicitate 14,100 women entrepreneurs across the state under its Women’s Day outreach initiative.
The large-scale recognition drive, being organised under the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM), aims to highlight and strengthen rural women-led enterprise.
Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, while reviewing preparations through a video conference, said the response to the initiative has been overwhelming.
He directed officials to ensure widespread dissemination of information about the programme to maximise participation and urged women entrepreneurs across Punjab to take part in the celebrations dedicated to women’s empowerment.
The state-level function will be held on March 18, 2026, during which the top 100 selected women entrepreneurs will be awarded ₹25,000 each. The event will be live-streamed at the district, block and gram panchayat levels to ensure participation from villages across the state.
Detailing the structure of the initiative, the minister said felicitation ceremonies have already begun at the block and constituency levels and will move to the district level from March 12 before culminating in the state-level event.
From each constituency, 100 Self Help Group (SHG) women entrepreneurs—totalling 11,700 across Punjab—will be honoured.
Additionally, 100 women entrepreneurs from each of the 23 districts, amounting to 2,300 in total, will be recognised. A state-level committee will select the top 100 women entrepreneurs for the special cash award of ₹25,000 each, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 14,100.
Highlighting the broader impact of PSRLM, Sond said nearly six lakh rural women are currently associated with around 58,000 Self Help Groups functioning in Punjab.
The state government has extended a revolving fund of ₹30,000, a community investment fund of ₹50,000, and loan facilities at a concessional interest rate of 7 per cent to support these groups.
He added that beyond financial assistance, women are being provided training, market linkages, banking support and access to social security schemes, contributing to enhanced household incomes and improved social standing in rural communities.
The review meeting was attended by Administrative Secretary Ajit Balaji Joshi, Joint Development Commissioner Shena Aggarwal, Director Rural Development and Panchayat Uma Shankar Gupta and PSRLM Nodal Officer Ramandeep Sharma, among other officials