Women empowerment push: 3 new schemes coming soon—how to enroll and get DBT benefits

Why this matters now

Women-centric policy push is set to intensify with new initiatives that combine direct cash support, credit access and safety nets, backed by a record gender budget outlay for FY 2025-26, making it easier for women to start businesses, access skills and receive direct benefits securely into bank accounts.

If you are planning to enroll this year, three schemes are slated to open or expand soon: a new first-time entrepreneur loan for women, a scaled-up Mission Shakti safety-support grid, and a Lakhpati Didi-linked livelihoods drive via SHGs, each with a clear enrollment path and DBT-ready process.

Scheme 1: New term-loan window for first-time women entrepreneurs

A new national credit scheme aims to support five lakh first-time entrepreneurs—women as the lead focus, with SC/ST coverage—through bank term loans up to ₹2 crore over five years, modelled on the learnings from Stand-Up India.

• What you get: Term loan up to ₹2 crore for viable projects in manufacturing, services or trading, plus online capacity-building on entrepreneurship and managerial skills.
• Likely lenders: Scheduled commercial banks and select NBFCs through a centralized application channel, with mentoring supported by industry partners and incubation cells.
• Who qualifies: First-time women entrepreneurs (18+), compliant KYC, no loan wilful default, business plan, and basic project financials; collateral and margin may be partly mitigated under credit guarantees.

How to enroll: step-by-step

• Get KYC ready: Aadhaar, PAN, address proof, recent bank statement, and a current/savings account with Aadhaar seeding (ABPS-ready for DBT reimbursements and interest subventions).
• Prepare a project brief: Problem, solution, target market, CAPEX-OPEX, cash flows, break-even, and risk plan; attach Udyam registration draft if applicable.
• Apply online: Use the notified national portal or bank portals when the window opens; choose preferred bank branch and upload documents, including quotations and licenses.
• Capacity-building: Complete the mandatory online modules for financial literacy, bookkeeping, GST basics, and digital payments acceptance to fast-track loan appraisal.

Scheme 2: Mission Shakti—safer, stronger, more accessible

Mission Shakti consolidates women’s protection, assistance and empowerment services with increased budgetary focus—expanding One Stop Centres, Women Helpline, and institutional support like shelter, legal aid and counseling, while plugging into district-level grievance redress and police response.

• What you get: Access to 24x7 helpline, immediate support at One Stop Centres, legal-aid linkage, medical assistance, shelter support, and emergency response through integrated control rooms.
• Who qualifies: Any woman in distress seeking safety, legal, health or counseling support; services are free, evidence-linked and coordinated with local administration.
• Direct benefits: Travel, medical and immediate assistance may be supported case-wise; all reimbursements use Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts to ensure quick DBT with audit trail.

How to enroll: step-by-step

• Reach out: Call the women’s helpline or visit the nearest One Stop Centre (OSC) at district HQs/sub-districts; keep Aadhaar, bank passbook, and a mobile number ready.
• Register a case: File a complaint or request assistance; get a case ID; demand copies of your intake form and referrals for records.
• Track and follow-up: Use designated helpline/portal to track support status; ask for legal-counsel scheduling and ensure your bank details are verified for any reimbursements.

Scheme 3: Lakhpati Didi livelihoods drive via SHGs

The Lakhpati Didi initiative—channeled through National Rural Livelihoods Mission—targets higher, stable incomes for SHG women through skill training, enterprise kits, market linkages, and credit support, now set for expanded coverage and deeper market access.

• What you get: Skill modules, toolkits, market access through e-commerce tie-ups and fairs, credit linkages via banks, and targeted DBT support for enterprise onboarding and scaling.
• Who qualifies: Women SHG members registered under NRLM/urban livelihoods missions; preference to first-time earners and high-potential clusters (food processing, tailoring, agri-allied, local crafts).
• Market enablement: E-commerce onboarding (cataloguing, packaging, pricing), digital payments (UPI, QR), and FPO/producer-company routes for bulk orders.

How to enroll: step-by-step

• Join an SHG: Visit the gram panchayat/cluster facilitation centre; carry Aadhaar, mobile, bank passbook; complete SHG membership and savings book entry.
• Attend skills camp: Pick a trade cluster; complete hours for certification; request enterprise kit and demand letter for bank credit linkage.
• Activate DBT: Ensure Aadhaar-bank seeding (ABPS) and NPCI mapper status; verify your account in the SHG MIS to receive direct support components and interest subventions.

Eligibility and documents checklist

• KYC: Aadhaar, PAN, address proof, photo.
• Banking: Passbook, IFSC, ABPS/Aadhaar seeding confirmation, recent statement.
• Livelihood/enterprise: Udyam (if MSME), basic project note, quotations, local licenses (FSSAI, GST, trade if required).
• Social protection: Mobile number in your name, email (optional), and consent for SMS/OTP for status updates.

Where to apply and who can help

• Credit scheme: National portal (to be notified) and participating banks; seek help at District Industries Centre, bank’s MSME desk, or CSC.
• Mission Shakti: One Stop Centre/Women Helpline at district level; contact women & child development officials or OSC nodal officer.
• Lakhpati Didi/SHG: Block Mission Management Unit (NRLM), panchayat office, or cluster-level federation office; urban areas via DUDA/ULB facilitation desks.

Timelines and practical tips

• Pre-enroll now: Finish eKYC, update bank seeding, and prepare documents so you can file on Day 1 when portals open.
• Keep one primary account: Ensure NPCI mapper shows only one active Aadhaar-linked account to avoid DBT failures.
• Use official channels: Apply only via notified portals or banks; avoid third-party agents; services at OSCs and SHG missions are free.
• Track status: Save application IDs, acknowledgment slips, and UTR numbers from bank SMS for DBT tracing.

Comparison at a glance

Bottom line

This trio creates a clear pathway: immediate safety and support, skills plus market access, and finally serious credit for scaling—a full-stack empowerment model.

Get your documents in place, enroll through official touchpoints, and keep your bank account Aadhaar-seeded so that every eligible rupee reaches you without delay.