Despite its emphasis on women empowerment, Narendra Modi Government has not done much to help out women entrepreneurs. It has doled out only Rs 4.5 crore for assistance of about 12 thousand women entrepreneurs during past two financial years. Of this amount 22 lakh was granted to 750 women from the North East region of the country.
These fact were revealed by Union Minister of State, MSME, Giriraj Singh in Rajya Sabha on November 16, 2016. Replying to a question by Ranee Narah, Congress MP from Assam, Singh said, “Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is operating a scheme titled Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) to promote women entrepreneurs.” The scheme envisages economic empowerment of women through trade related training, information and counseling activities related to trades, products, services, etc.
Under the scheme, there is a provision for Government of India grant up to 30% of the loan/ credit maximum up to Rs. 30.00 lakh as appraised by lending institutions/ banks. The lending institutions/ banks would finance loan assistance for a group of women through NGOs for undertaking non-farm activities.
Following are the details of assistance extended to women by MSME Ministry under this scheme:
| Year | Number of NGOs/ Institutes benefitted | Number of women benefitted | Total grant released (Rs. in crore) |
| 2014-15 | 24 | 8265 | 2.54 |
| 2015-16 | 12 | 3560 | 2.00 |
| Year | Number of NGO benefitted from North East States | Number of women benefitted from North East States | Total grant released in North East States (Rs. in crore) |
| 2014-15 | 3 | 750 | 0.225 |
| 2015-16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
