Union Budget 2026-27 to empower rural women in UP with new 'SHE-Mart' entrepreneur hubs

The Union Budget 2026-27 has brought fresh hope for rural women in Uttar Pradesh with the launch of Self Help Entrepreneur 'SHE-Marts'. The new initiative aims to empower women by turning them into business owners and strengthening women-led enterprises across the state. The move is being seen as a major step towards women empowerment and economic independence.

Under the SHE-Mart plan, rural women will no longer depend only on loans for their livelihoods. Instead, they will run and own their own enterprises. The initiative supports the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, under which a large campaign is underway in Uttar Pradesh to make three crore women self-reliant.

SHE-Marts will be community-owned retail outlets, developed under cluster-level federations, and platforms where women can sell their products directly. These hubs will offer women entrepreneurs an organised, stable and long-term market to grow their businesses. The central government will implement the project in partnership with state governments using advanced financing tools.

The initiative builds on the success of the Lakhpati Didi programme, which helped women earn sustainable incomes. Now, the focus is on moving women beyond loan-based work, making them enterprise owners and creating employment for others in villages.

Women-led rural businesses will get help through markets (direct access to buyers), Capital (financial support and funding tools) and networks (business connections and community support). This is expected to boost the rural economy and improve household incomes.

The Uttar Pradesh government has set an ambitious target to financially empower women through self-help groups.

Key efforts include:

Through SHE-Marts, products made by rural women will reach customers directly. This will help women become full-time entrepreneurs and job creators instead of just workers.