Green business empowerment for women

Challenges and Opportunities

• Green enterprises are becoming an economic force, with Odisha’s green economy having a market potential of $23 billion.

• Women currently lead only 18% of all start-ups in 2024, limiting the pace and scale at which India can realize this green potential.

Recommendations

• Finance should be unbiased and women-led, as it is a tougher task for women to raise funds.

• The government has recognized this gap, offering term loans of up to ₹2 crore to first-time SC and ST women entrepreneurs.

• More schemes offering credit or term loans upwards of ₹1 crore are needed.

• Women in green businesses need better-quality mentorship tailored to their specific challenges.

• More collaborations that offer management training, mentoring, networking, and access to capital for greater women’s contribution to a green economy.

• Update the engineering curricula with significant automation advances and offer scholarships.

The Importance of Empowering Women

• To unlock India’s green growth potential, we must address the barriers that women entrepreneurs face in the green economy.

• By fostering targeted mentorship, improving access to finance, and building trust in women-led businesses, more women can take the lead in shaping a sustainable future.