AIZAWL, Feb 27: NITI Aayog has established the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) Mizoram Chapter on Thursday, marking the first such platform in the northeastern region. This initiative is aimed at boosting entrepreneurship among women in the state. The announcement was made during a state workshop focused on women-led development through entrepreneurship.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma expressed his gratitude towards NITI Aayog for choosing Mizoram as the first state in the northeast to establish a WEP chapter. He emphasized that the presence of NITI Aayog Member V.K. Paul at the event was a significant encouragement for everyone involved and expressed hope for positive outcomes.

The Chief Minister highlighted the industrious nature of women in Mizoram, noting their crucial role in the state’s economic progress. To further support aspiring women entrepreneurs, the state government launched the ‘Bana Kaih’ (Handholding) scheme. In its pilot phase, the scheme has selected 517 progress partners, 140 of whom (27%) are women. Lalduhoma expressed his belief that more women would benefit from this scheme and reiterated the government’s commitment to collaborating with NITI Aayog to enhance the impact of ‘Bana Kaih’ and other initiatives.

NITI Aayog Member V.K. Paul praised the entrepreneurial spirit and financial independence of women in Mizoram. He highlighted that the WEP, launched by the Chief Minister, would serve as a key enabler for women’s empowerment and economic growth. Paul encouraged women entrepreneurs to register with the platform to take full advantage of its opportunities, emphasizing that the empowerment of women is essential for India’s overall development. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi prioritizes this cause, and NITI Aayog is committed to supporting it through initiatives like WEP.

The ‘Bana Kaih’ scheme, launched by the Mizoram government last year, includes five key components, with the central feature being collateral-free and interest-free bank loans. These loans, which can go up to Rs 50 lakh, are provided through partner banks, with the state government serving as a guarantor under existing national credit guarantee schemes. The scheme also offers interest subvention of up to 100% for beneficiaries who consistently repay their loans, providing significant relief. Additionally, the scheme includes the Chief Minister’s Special Category Scheme, which offers a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 1 lakh to eligible beneficiaries.