Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has marked a significant milestone in its month-long International Women’s Day celebrations by honoring 11,700 women entrepreneurs under the newly launched ‘Mahila Udyami Samman Program.’ The initiative, which concluded its first phase on Friday, March 6, 2026, aims to recognize the contributions of women who have established successful self-employment ventures and small businesses across all 117 Assembly constituencies in the state.
The program has seen unprecedented participation, with over 28,000 nominations submitted via the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM) portal. During the initial phase, which ran from March 2 to March 6, 100 women from each constituency—representing both rural and urban sectors—were felicitated for their journey toward financial independence. These awardees include women working in diverse fields, ranging from home-based enterprises and agriculture-related ventures to various service sectors.
The recognition process is structured in three distinct stages to ensure a comprehensive reach across the state. Following the successful completion of the constituency-level events, the program will transition to the district level across 23 districts. In this second phase, 2,300 women will be selected—100 from each district—to be honoured for their outstanding contributions to the local economy.
The grand finale of the ‘Mahila Udyami Samman Program’ is scheduled for a state-level ceremony on March 18. During this event, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will personally honour the top 100 women entrepreneurs from across Punjab. In addition to the official recognition, each of these 100 finalists will receive a cash award of ₹25,000.
Government officials stated that the initiative is designed to move beyond single-day celebrations and foster a long-term culture of self-reliance. By providing a platform for visibility and financial rewards, the administration hopes to inspire thousands of other women to pursue innovation and become leaders of economic change within their communities. The program has been widely appreciated by local representatives as a meaningful step toward acknowledging the vital role women play in the state’s overall economic development.
