Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh recently highlighted the Karnataka government’s significant efforts in women’s empowerment, revealing that over the past two years, nearly 1.2 lakh women have received financial assistance totaling a remarkable ₹50,000 crore.
During an induction ceremony at the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) on Saturday, Ms. Rajneesh noted that this substantial financial support has led to a considerable increase in female employment, with approximately 37% more women joining the labor force in recent years.
Ms. Rajneesh strongly urged the FKCCI, which boasts over 5,000 active members statewide, to play a pivotal role. She suggested that each member company should adopt at least one government educational institution, thereby becoming a valuable resource for fostering entrepreneurship among students.
She emphasized that while the government can create between 20,000 to 30,000 jobs, the actual demand for employment is far greater. Therefore, a collaborative approach is essential, and the FKCCI is uniquely positioned to take on this crucial responsibility, she told the trade body members.
Acknowledging the high unemployment rate, Ms. Rajneesh underscored the importance of developing robust platforms for entrepreneurship, benefiting not only women but the general populace. She further encouraged the FKCCI to broaden its reach to zilla (district) and gram panchayat (village council) levels, ensuring that entrepreneurial spirit permeates every community.
The Chief Secretary, who arrived slightly late to the FKCCI event, shared that her delay was due to accompanying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on inspections concerning the improvement of Bengaluru’s road infrastructure.