Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: ‘Faral Sakhi’ Initiative Launched in Mira Bhayandar

The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), has launched the ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative to empower women entrepreneurs in traditional snack production.

Comprehensive Support for Women Entrepreneurs

‘Faral Sakhi’ provides comprehensive training and support to women engaged in producing traditional festive snacks, known as ‘Faral’. A central kitchen established by MBMC enables women from self-help groups (SHGs) to prepare these snacks professionally. The corporation further supports these entrepreneurs by offering sales spaces and promoting their products through municipal advertisements. During the Diwali season, the initiative achieved remarkable success, selling over 3 tons of snacks due to their superior quality and taste.

Training and Skill Development

Twenty-five women from Mira Bhayandar have been selected for technical training in business operations. This training, facilitated by the Centre for Education, Governance, and Public Policy (CEGP Foundation), equips participants with the skills and knowledge needed to establish sustainable businesses and contribute to the local economy.

WEP’s Role and ‘Award to Reward’ Initiative

WEP, incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018 and transitioned into a public-private partnership in 2022, aims to empower women entrepreneurs by overcoming information asymmetry and providing support across various pillars, including access to finance, market linkages, training and skilling, mentoring and networking, compliance and legal assistance, and business development services. In 2023, WEP launched the ‘Award to Reward’ program, offering a framework for stakeholders to develop impactful programs that enable women entrepreneurs to succeed in domestic markets and scale their businesses internationally. With over 30,000 women entrepreneurs already engaged, this partnership with MBMC aims to create a thriving ecosystem for women-led businesses in Mira Bhayandar.

Statements from Key Officials

Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog, and Mission Director, WEP, stated, “Supporting women entrepreneurs is vital to achieve women-led development. By integrating the ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative into the ‘Award to Reward’ program, we are fostering the growth of women-led home industries, enabling them to transition into large-scale enterprises.” Sanjay Katkar, Municipal Commissioner of MBMC, added, “The ‘Faral Sakhi’ initiative represents a significant step toward the holistic development of women entrepreneurs. Through this partnership with WEP, we are preparing the women of Mira Bhayandar to lead sustainable industries and inspire future generations.”

Summary of the news