Chandigarh: The Government of Punjab has launched the Mahila Udyami Samman Program to celebrate women entrepreneurship on the occasion of International Women’s Day, drawing an enthusiastic response from women across the state. The initiative reflects the commitment of the government led by Bhagwant Mann to strengthen women’s empowerment by recognizing those who have built their own identity through business and self-employment. In the first phase, held from March 2 to March 6 across all 117 Assembly constituencies, around 11,700 women entrepreneurs were honoured for their achievements in fields such as small businesses, home-based enterprises, agriculture-related ventures, and service sectors.
The program has received an overwhelming response, with over 28,000 nominations submitted through the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM) portal. At the next stage, 2,300 women will be recognized at district-level events across 23 districts, where 100 outstanding women from each district will be felicitated for their contributions to entrepreneurship and financial independence.
The final state-level ceremony will be held on March 18, where the top 100 women entrepreneurs from across Punjab will be honoured by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, each receiving a ₹25,000 cash award. The state government is marking International Women’s Day as a month-long celebration dedicated to women’s empowerment, encouraging more women to pursue entrepreneurship and play a leading role in economic development.
