HYDERABAD: While start-up initiatives are booming across the country, only eight per cent of them are headed by women.
“They are growing which is a good sign, but more women need to step in,” pointed Nirmala Sitharaman, Union minister for state, commerce and industry. She was speaking at an interactive session conducted by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) on Saturday. The government’s role in creating more entrepreneurs is limited, she added.
“That was the whole idea of the Make in India campaign where the government’s role is that of a facilitator. It will help ease the process.
We also believe that we do not know what women or entrepreneurs want. Those working on the field should be able to explain what support they need from us,” said the minister.
Addressing the scepticism around the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 which was passed recently and increased maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks, which could lead to employers denying jobs to women, the minister said, “This is a great possibility but we cannot continue to live with this mindset.
A family consists of a man too and it is important that this is recognised. Women need to be employed based on their skill and productivity just like men.”