Rajasthan Budget 2026-27 Unveils Major Push for Women's Financial and Digital Empowerment
The Rajasthan state government has presented its Budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, placing a strong emphasis on enhancing financial and digital literacy among women, with a particular focus on rural communities. This comprehensive plan aims to expand livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurship support through a series of targeted initiatives.
District-Level Rural Women BPOs and Enhanced Loan Schemes
A cornerstone of the Budget is the proposal to establish district-level Rural Women Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centers. This initiative is allocated Rs 100 crore and is designed to generate significant employment opportunities for women in rural areas. Finance Minister Diya Kumari highlighted the success of existing programs, noting that over 16 lakh women have already been covered under the Lakhpati Didi Scheme. To further bolster this effort, the loan limit under the scheme has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
Additionally, the Budget raises the loan limit under the Chief Minister Nari Shakti Udyam Protsahan Yojana from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, providing greater financial support for women entrepreneurs.
Saksham Centres and Banking Access Initiatives
To improve digital and financial literacy, the Budget proposes the creation of Saksham Centres at 100 Rajeevika cluster-level federations. These centres will be equipped with dedicated buildings, with an allocation of Rs 25 crore for their construction and operation.
Strengthening banking access is another key priority. The plan includes training 5,000 women associated with Rajeevika self-help groups as Banking Correspondent Sakhis, who will facilitate banking services in remote areas. Furthermore, 1,000 women will be trained and connected to rural bank branches as Bank Sakhis, enhancing local financial inclusion.
Marketing Support and Enterprise Development
For better marketing of products from self-help groups (SHGs), the state government will launch 50 new enterprises in sectors such as dairy, textiles, footwear, millets, and spices. Emphasis will be placed on branding and packaging to increase market competitiveness.
To support these efforts, Raj Sakhi Stores will be established at all divisional headquarters, providing a platform for SHG products to reach wider audiences.
Overall, the Rajasthan Budget 2026-27 represents a holistic approach to women's empowerment, combining digital literacy, financial support, and entrepreneurial opportunities to drive economic growth and social development in the state.
