New Delhi: The Delhi government has taken a major step to empower working women with the launch of a women-focused MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) scheme offering collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 crore.

The announcement came alongside the inauguration of a modern 500-cot crèche facility, underlining the administration’s commitment to supporting working mothers in balancing career and childcare responsibilities.

The new MSME initiative is designed to provide women with the financial backing necessary to establish and grow businesses, promoting self-employment and entrepreneurial ventures across the capital. Officials emphasise that by easing access to large-scale, collateral-free funding, the scheme encourages women to take bold steps in building sustainable businesses that can generate employment opportunities for others.

MSMEs are a crucial component of India’s economy, encompassing small factories, service units, startups, and local industries. They play a key role in regional economic development, job creation, and fostering innovation, ensuring that economic growth reaches the grassroots.

Supporting women-led enterprises within this sector is viewed as an essential strategy for inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Delhi government has already finalised the framework for the scheme, which is expected to be implemented in the near future. Beyond financial assistance, it will also offer mentoring, training programmes, advisory services, and infrastructural support to help women overcome the challenges of entrepreneurship.

The 500-cot crèche complements these efforts by addressing one of the primary obstacles faced by working mothers, enabling them to focus on career and business ambitions with greater confidence.

Experts believe that these initiatives could significantly increase women’s workforce participation, stimulate local enterprise growth, and drive innovation. By combining financial support with practical childcare solutions, Delhi is setting a model for other states seeking to strengthen women’s economic empowerment.