Dailymirror.news,Mumbai, January 28, 2025: The State Bank of India (SBI), the nation’s largest bank and a key financial institution serving over 21 crore women, has further strengthened its commitment to women empowerment with the launch of a specialized skill development program for women. This initiative, aimed at supporting women across its 153 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs), was inaugurated virtually on Republic Day by Shri. Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (MoRD), and Shri. C.S. Setty, Chairman of SBI, with SBI’s Managing Director, Shri. Vinay Tonse, also attending the event.

The program, designed to benefit approximately 5,200 women candidates, offers 27 diverse training modules, including tailoring, food processing, beauty services, vermiculture, agarbatti and candle making, bee-keeping, jute product manufacturing, soft toy creation, and the “One GP, One BC” initiative, among others. Along with skill-building, the program will provide participants with essential guidance on securing financial support and establishing market linkages to ensure long-term success in their entrepreneurial endeavors. The ceremony also featured successful entrepreneurs and local dignitaries who shared their stories to inspire the participants.

SBI’s RSETIs have been at the forefront of promoting self-employment across India. Since their inception, these institutes have trained over 12.74 lakh candidates through nearly 46,818 programs, with an impressive 74% of participants achieving self-employment.

With women contributing significantly to India’s GDP, estimated at 18%, promoting women empowerment has become an urgent need. SBI has made significant strides in supporting women’s entrepreneurship, with over ₹50,000 crore in SHG (Self-Help Group) loans, impacting the lives of over 1 crore women. Additionally, more than 50% of SBI’s enrollments in Social Security Schemes are women. Women empowerment remains a central focus in SBI’s CSR efforts.

Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department of Rural Development, emphasized the importance of this initiative in fulfilling the Government’s vision for inclusive and equitable development. He praised SBI’s unwavering commitment to rural development and highlighted the role of RSETIs in advancing financial literacy and entrepreneurship for women.

Speaking at the event, SBI ChairmanC.S. Setty stated, “This program reflects SBI’s commitment to promoting women empowerment and advancing financial inclusion. By equipping rural women with skills, we are empowering them to achieve economic independence and contribute to nation-building, driving us closer to the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.”

This initiative reaffirms SBI’s dedication to empowering women through skill development, helping them establish sustainable livelihoods and make valuable contributions to their communities.