Industry experts are anticipating several key measures for women entrepreneurs in the upcoming interim budget. These measures include incentives for maternity leave benefits and a focus on skill training for young women. They also expect tax relaxations for women entrepreneurs and increased paid holidays for working mothers. The interim budget, to be presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, is expected to address these concerns ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Radhika Dalmia, chairperson of FICCI Ladies Organisation (Kolkata chapter), has highlighted the need to increase the allowances provided by the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana and enhance education benefits for girls. She emphasized that financial inclusion, healthcare infrastructure, and education, particularly for girls, are crucial for creating a more inclusive India.

Saloni Verma, co-founder and chairperson of Sunshine Corporate Creches, discussed the implications of the Maternity Act 2017, which made creche services and six months of paid maternity leave mandatory for companies with 50 or more employees. Verma proposed financial incentives for smaller companies to help cover maternity leave salaries and creche services. This aims to address concerns about reluctance to hire married young women and the gender imbalance in most companies.

Jyoti Bhandari, founder and CEO of Lovak Capital, called for the budget to prioritize skill training for young women, particularly through vocational programs after completing class 12. Bhandari also emphasized the importance of empowering women economically and supporting successful women entrepreneurs. She suggested facilitating their transition into larger producer organizations and exploring the role of women in agriculture and other non-farm sectors, contributing to India’s economic growth.

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