AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India’s leading SFB, celebrated International Women’s Day by organizing a vibrant event with more than 150 women entrepreneurs from grassroots communities. The celebration aimed to honor the spirit of womanhood and recognize the achievements of women in entrepreneurship through AU Small Finance Bank’s CSR initiative, AU Udyogini.
The event’s distinguished chief guests included Mrs. Jyoti Agarwal, Founder of Sanjay & Jyoti Agarwal Foundation; Dr. Preeti Sharma, Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) officer; and Mrs. Anju Tibrewal.
Women participating in the celebration enjoyed a day filled with exciting activities, including a fashion show. Beyond just a moment of joy and camaraderie, the event offered a unique opportunity for attendees to receive mentorship from the inspirational women chief guests. The one-day program saw the participation of more than 150 women, with many sharing their inspiring journeys.
On this special occasion, Mrs. Jyoti Agarwal, Founder of Sanjay & Jyoti Agarwal Foundation expressed her appreciation for the women entrepreneurs. She said, “The willpower and infectious energy of these women truly demonstrate their empowerment. I am certain that this empowerment has played a pivotal role in transforming their lives and making them self-reliant as they have begun to support their families financially. I am delighted to learn that the program engages over 2300 women members of self-help groups and 780 individual women entrepreneurs who have not only started their own businesses but also earning and supporting their families. This intervention has promoted sustainable development by supporting local communities and enhancing the economic well-being of women.”
The celebration also included the distribution of Udyam registration certificates to many women beneficiaries of AU Small Finance Bank’s CSR program, AU Udyogini. Launched in October 2020, AU Udyogini initially concentrated on creating entrepreneurship opportunities for women from families of daily wage earners affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has since broadened its scope to empower women from distressed backgrounds in rural Rajasthan, thereby enhancing their family incomes. It aligns with NITI Aayog’s ambitious plan to improve India’s ranking in the Human Development Index by enhancing the standard of living and being executed in aspirational districts as defined by NITI
Aayog.
AU Udyogini comprises three key initiatives dedicated to fostering community-based enterprises, building self-help groups, and supporting women entrepreneurs in setting up independent businesses:
Khejari Mahila Producer Company, Brand name Maa Annapurna Masala: A women-led community enterprise focused on delivering quality spices and pure mustard oil. Eight centers have been established, supporting 110 women.
Nirjhari Women Artisans Producer Company: Registered as a producer company, this initiative involves women in making home furnishings, apparel, tailoring jobs and recycled paper products etc.
Individual Women Entrepreneurship Initiative: Supporting women via seed capital to start small businesses such as beauty parlours, cosmetic shops, grocery stores, flour mills, etc.