Airtel Payments Bank, Frontier Markets and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth announced the launch of She Leads Bharat:Udyam, an initiative to elevate 100,000 women-owned small businesses with resources, tools and opportunities to grow and diversify their incomes. The Asia Inclusive Growth Forum announced an announcement at a gathering of 100 leaders to advance inclusive growth in India and the global south.
Frontier Markets’ Meri-Saheli platform will enable 100,000 women-owned small businesses in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to learn and earn. 10,000 will become Airtel Payments Bank Business Correspondents (BCs) to grow their businesses and unlock additional revenue streams, aligning with the bank’s vision of ‘Empowering India with Accessible and Inclusive Banking.
Anubrata Biswas, MD&CEO, Airtel Payments Bank said, “Taking our commitment forward to empower women in rural India to embark on their entrepreneurial endeavours, we are collaborating with Frontier Markets and Mastercard on She Leads Bharat:Udyam”.Women-owned small businesses in India face challenges that hinder their full potential. Despite being 20% of MSMEs, they receive only 5% of financing from public-sector banks. They are less digitally and receive less training. However, proper support can increase their hiring, credit repayment, and income sharing, driving inclusive economic growth.
