KOLKATA, Jan 28: The State Bank of India has intensified its commitment to ‘women empowerment’ with the introduction of a specialized training program designed specifically for women at its 153 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs).
Launched on Republic Day, this initiative aims to support around 5,200 women candidates, as reported in a statement released on Tuesday.
The virtual inauguration was conducted by Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (MoRD), and C S Setty, Chairman of SBI, with SBI’s Managing Director, Vinay Tonse, also in attendance.
The program includes 27 varied training modules covering areas such as tailoring, food processing, beauty services, vermiculture, agarbatti and candle making, bee-keeping, jute product manufacturing, and soft toy creation, along with initiatives like “One GP, One BC.”
Participants will receive extensive support in securing financial assistance and establishing market connections to ensure their ventures are sustainable. Additionally, local leaders and successful entrepreneurs will share their insights to motivate the trainees.
SBI’s RSETIs have played a crucial role in fostering self-employment across the nation. Since their inception, these institutes have provided training to approximately 12.74 lakh candidates through nearly 46,818 programs, with a remarkable 74 percent of participants attaining self-employment.
Given that women contribute around 18 percent to India’s GDP, empowering women has become essential for national progress.
The State Bank of India has made notable strides in supporting women’s entrepreneurial aspirations in India, boasting a self-help group (SHG) loan portfolio exceeding 50,000 crores and positively impacting over 1 crore women involved in these groups, thereby establishing market leadership in this arena. Additionally, the involvement of women in total enrollments under SBI’s Social Security Schemes has surpassed 50 percent. Moreover, women’s empowerment is a key focus area of SBI’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Singh emphasized the importance of this initiative in aligning with the Government’s vision for inclusive and equitable development, praising SBI’s ongoing dedication to rural progress and the essential role of its RSETIs in promoting financial literacy, skills training, and entrepreneurship among women.
Setty stated, “This specialized training program reinforces SBI’s dedication to advancing women empowerment and genuine financial inclusion. It not only empowers rural women to become self-sufficient but also contributes to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’ By equipping women with essential skills, we support their path to economic independence while also contributing to the larger goal of nation-building.”
This initiative exemplifies SBI’s steadfast commitment to empowering women through skill development, enabling them to create sustainable livelihoods and make significant contributions to their communities.
(UNI)
Leave a Reply