Description

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Context

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has partnered with UN Women by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the 'Womaniya' initiative.

What is Government e-Marketplace (GeM)?

It was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as a unified online platform for public procurement in India.

It functions as a one-stop-shop for Central and State Government departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and other autonomous bodies to procure common use goods and services in a transparent and efficient manner.

It operates as a 100% government-owned, not-for-profit Section 8 company, managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

Assessments by the World Bank and Economic Survey confirm GeM's impact, showing an average cost saving of nearly 10% in government procurement. (Source: PIB)

What is 'Womaniya' Initiative?

'Womaniya' is a dedicated initiative on the GeM portal, launched in 2019, to promote entrepreneurship among women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

It provides a direct platform for women from the informal sector to sell their products to government buyers, thus promoting financial inclusion.

The Recent MoU between GeM and UN Women will institutionalize support for women entrepreneurs by merging GeM's market access with UN Women's gender-responsive procurement expertise.

Role of GeM	Role of UN Women
Conduct training and onboarding workshops for women sellers. Sensitize government buyers to encourage sourcing from women. Develop e-learning resources in regional languages. Highlight success stories to inspire others.	Provide technical expertise to design gender-responsive training modules. Assist in developing robust validation criteria for women-led enterprises. Promote the 'Womaniya' initiative globally. Connect women sellers with financial institutions and support networks.

The initiative directly addresses SDG Target 5.a (undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources) and Target 5.b (enhance the use of enabling technology to promote the empowerment of women).

Source: PIB

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PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. What is the objective of the 'Womaniya' initiative launched on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform?

A) To provide exclusive tax benefits to women-owned businesses.

B) To offer skill development training for women in the IT sector.

C) To integrate women entrepreneurs and SHGs into the public procurement process.

D) To provide interest-free loans for starting new businesses.

Answer: C

Explanation: The Womaniya initiative is designed to enable women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to sell their products and services directly to government entities via the GeM platform.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Womaniya is a dedicated initiative on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) launched in 2019. It aims to enable women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to sell their products and services directly to government ministries, departments, and public sector undertakings.

The initiative is targeted at women entrepreneurs who own Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from across India, including those from the informal sector.

The key objectives are to provide women-led enterprises with better access to markets through the national GeM platform, improve their access to finance by formalizing transactions, and help them with value-addition services like branding and packaging.