Toward Gender Responsive Economic Recovery: An Analysis of AtmaNirbhar Bharat Stimulus Package for Women-Owned Businesses

Women entrepreneurs have always faced multiple challenges—from lack of working capital to difficulties in coordination of their businesses due to their care and domestic responsibilities. These obstacles have only increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 70% of women entrepreneurs reported being ineligible for credit under the recently launched Government of India’s AtmaNirbhar Bharat economic stimulus package. Moreover, women’s care and domestic responsibilities have increased manifold, and there have also been reports of an increase in domestic violence.

However, despite these challenges, women are keen to get assistance towards adapting their businesses to the new normal. This report attempts to analyse the AtmaNirbhar Bharat economic stimulus package from the perspective of women-owned businesses during COVID-19, while suggesting special measures that can be incorporated under the stimulus, so that women-owned businesses do not get left behind.