SBI Launches Skill Development Programme For 5,200 Women Across 153 RSETIs To Strengthen Empowerment Mission

Mumbai: The State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest bank, has taken a significant step towards advancing its women empowerment mission by launching a specialised training programme exclusively for women.

The initiative, rolled out across the bank’s 153 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs), aims to benefit 5,200 women and was inaugurated virtually on Republic Day by Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), and CS Setty, Chairman, SBI. Vinay Tonse, SBI’s Managing Director, was also present at the event.

The comprehensive programme features 27 diverse training modules designed to equip women with essential skills for self-employment. These modules include tailoring, food processing, beauty services, vermiculture, agarbatti and candle making, bee-keeping, jute product manufacturing, soft toy creation, and the “One GP, One BC” (One Gram Panchayat, One Banking Correspondent) initiative, among others.

Participants will also receive guidance on accessing financial assistance and establishing market linkages to ensure the long-term sustainability of their ventures. To inspire and motivate, local dignitaries and successful entrepreneurs will share their experiences and insights with the participants.

Since their inception, SBI’s RSETIs have been instrumental in fostering self-employment across India. The institutes have trained nearly 12.74 lakh individuals through 46,818 training programmes, with an impressive 74% of candidates achieving self-employment. SBI has also been a key supporter of women entrepreneurs through its self-help group (SHG) loan portfolio of over ₹50,000 crore, benefiting more than 1 crore women.

Speaking at the launch, MoRD secretary Singh highlighted the importance of the initiative in advancing the government’s vision for inclusive and equitable development. He praised SBI’s commitment to rural development and its efforts in promoting financial literacy, skill-building, and entrepreneurship among women through its RSETIs.

SBI chairman Setty said, “This special training programme underscores SBI’s commitment to fostering women empowerment and advancing financial inclusion in its true spirit. It is not only making rural women self-reliant but also a step towards ‘Viksit Bharat’. By equipping women with the skills, we aim to support their journey towards economic independence while contributing to the broader goal of nation-building.”

With women contributing approximately 18% of India’s GDP, initiatives like this are vital for driving the nation’s progress, he added.