In the Union Budget 2026-27 (₹53.4 lakh crore), Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed the establishment of Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts as a structured retail and enterprise platform for rural women-led businesses.The proposal builds upon the Lakhpati Didi Programme, signalling a policy shift from micro-credit-based livelihoods to enterprise ownership.
2. What is SHE-Mart?
SHE-Mart stands for Self-Help Entrepreneur Mart.Key Features:• Community-owned retail outlets • Set up within cluster-level federations of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) • Focus on agro and allied activity clusters • Backed by enhanced and innovative financing instruments • Ownership and management remain with local women collectivesCore Objectives:• Provide permanent retail points for SHG-made goods • Improve direct market access • Support branding and value-added products • Ensure sustainable income generation
3. Policy Shift: From Credit to Enterprise
Earlier Model (Lakhpati Didi):• Focused on skill development and credit linkage • Target: SHG households earning ₹1 lakh annually • Emphasis on livelihood supportNew Model (SHE-Mart):• Moves women from credit-linked activities to enterprise ownership • Structured retail channel • Improved income visibility • Formal market integrationNational Target: Creation of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis.
4. Financial and Institutional Support
• Digital end-to-end loan system for SHG women • Online applications and bank-linked approvals • Working capital support • Improved borrowing capacityBudgetary Allocation:• ₹3605 crore allocated under Mission Shakti (Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women)
5. Education Linkage: Girls’ Hostels in Every District
The Budget also announced:• One girls’ hostel in every district • Focus on STEM education • Addressing prolonged laboratory and study-hour challenges • Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and capital supportThis integrates enterprise, finance, and educationas pillars of women empowerment.
6. Economic Significance
SHE-Mart represents:• Shift from welfare-based intervention to structured economic participation • Formalisation of rural enterprises • Strengthening of SHG supply chains • Promotion of inclusive rural growth • Support to Viksit Bharat visionPotential Benefits:• Reduced dependence on informal credit • Better asset creation • Improved market integration • Enterprise scalability
STATIC PART
Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
• Community-based financial and livelihood collectives • Promoted under DAY-NRLM • Focus on savings, credit, and livelihood diversification
Lakhpati Didi Programme
• Targets SHG women crossing ₹1 lakh annual income • Focus on skill training and credit access • Aims at financial independence of rural women
Mission Shakti
• Umbrella scheme for protection and empowerment of women • Supports safety, livelihood, and institutional strengthening
Challenges Highlighted
• Digital and skill gaps among rural women • Infrastructure and logistics bottlenecks • Need for institutional convergence • Sustained capacity building requiredWithout systemic support, market access alone may not ensure durable outcomes.Updated - 01 February 2026 | 02:07 PM IST News Source: LiveMint Business Standard The Hindu BusinessLine