Mumbai: State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank and the banker to over 21 crore women, strengthens its women’s empowerment mission with the launch of a special training programme tailored exclusively for women across its 153 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). This programme, inaugurated on Republic Day is set to benefit approximately 5,200 women candidates. The programme was virtually inaugurated jointly by Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, (MoRD) and Shri C. S. Setty, Chairman, SBI. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of SBI’s Managing Director, Shri Vinay Tonse.
The programme encompasses 27 diverse training modules, including tailoring, food processing, beauty services, vermiculture, agarbatti/candle making, bee-keeping, jute product manufacturing, soft toy creation, and “One GP, One BC,” among others. Participants will also receive comprehensive guidance on accessing financial assistance and establishing market linkages to ensure the long-term success of their ventures. To inspire and motivate participants, local dignitaries and successful entrepreneurs will share their experiences and insights.
SBI’s RSETIs have been pivotal in promoting self-employment nationwide. Since their inception, these institutes have trained approximately 12.74 lakh candidates through nearly 46,818 training programmes, with an impressive 74 per cent of candidates achieving self-employment.
Given the significant contribution of women to India’s GDP of around 18 per cent, ensuring women’s empowerment has become the need of the hour for the nation.
State Bank of India has significantly aided the entrepreneurship dream of women in India. With a SHG (self-help group) loan portfolio of over ₹50,000 Crores, SBI has impacted the lives of over one crore women involved in such groups, securing market leadership in this segment. In addition, the participation of females in the total enrolments covered by SBI has been more than 50 per cent under the Social Security Schemes. Further, regarding CSR, women’s empowerment has been one of the key focus areas of SBI.
The Secretary of the Department of Rural Development, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh highlighted the significance of the initiative in advancing the Government’s vision for inclusive and equitable development. He also commended SBI’s steadfast commitment to rural development and acknowledged the critical role played by SBI’s RSETIs in fostering financial literacy, skill-building, and entrepreneurship among women.
Speaking on this occasion State Bank of India’s Chairman, Shri. C. S. Setty, said, “This special training programme underscores SBI’s commitment to fostering women empowerment and advancing financial inclusion in its true spirit. It is not only making rural women self-reliant but also a step towards Viksit Bharat. By equipping women with the skills, we aim to support their journey toward economic independence while contributing to the broader goal of nation-building.”
This initiative reflects SBI’s unwavering dedication to empowering women through skill development, enabling them to build sustainable livelihoods and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
