Powering Financial Independence in Tier 2 & 3 India
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, November 18, 2025: With Women Entrepreneurship Day being marked today (November 19), here is a curated listicle highlighting five government and fintech-led initiatives that are enabling financial independence and entrepreneurship for women across Tier 2 and 3 India.
With women-led development becoming a national priority and government allocations for women’s welfare rising 37% to Rs4.49 lakh crore, India is witnessing a stronger push toward empowering women through income generation, digital adoption, skill development, and property ownership.
At the same time, the Bharat Women in Business & Aspirations Index (BWAI) 2025 shows that 58% of women entrepreneurs in smaller towns aim to upskill financially and managerially, reflecting rising ambition in India’s heartland.
India’s women entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules of business from the ground up, not just in metros, but across the heart of Bharat. From running self-help groups and micro-enterprises to leveraging fintech tools, women in Tier 2 and 3 towns are taking bold steps toward financial independence. According to the Bharat Women in Business & Aspirations Index (BWAI) 2025, 58% of women entrepreneurs in smaller cities aspire to strengthen their financial and business management skills, reflecting a rising wave of ambition powered by access, awareness, and opportunity.
This momentum is being accelerated by both government and fintech-led initiatives that are unlocking credit access, property ownership, and digital literacy, the building blocks of true economic empowerment.
Here are the top five initiatives giving financial independence to women in Tier 2 and 3 India:
1. Lakhpati Didi Scheme
Launched under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Lakhpati Didi Scheme envisions creating two crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029 rural women earning at least ₹1 lakh annually through self-employment and enterprise. The program empowers women Self-Help Group (SHG) members to become entrepreneurs by facilitating access to credit, digital tools, and market linkages.
Women are trained in diverse sectors such as dairy, tailoring, agriculture, and digital services, helping them turn micro-enterprises into sustainable income streams. The initiative has already uplifted lakhs of women, providing them with not only financial stability but also social recognition within their communities. Under the Lakhpati Didi Initiative, 1.5 crore women are already enabled to earn more than Rs One lakh annually, against a target of 3 crore women.
2. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
Beyond providing homes, the PMAY initiative has been a significant driver of women’s asset ownership and financial empowerment. By mandating the inclusion of a woman as a co-owner or primary owner in property documents, the scheme ensures that women gain access to collateral for credit, enhanced social security, and long-term wealth creation. As of August 25, 2025, over 1.2 crore houses have been sanctioned, with 75% of them completed across India.
This asset-based empowerment is proving transformational, especially in Tier 2 and 3 regions, where owning property gives women financial credibility and a stronger voice in household and community decision-making.
3. Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP)
The STEP initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development provides skills training and capacity-building support to women, particularly from rural and marginalized communities.
The program offers training across 10 key sectors, including agriculture, handlooms, hospitality, and IT-enabled services, to help women gain employability and entrepreneurial skills. With a focus on digital and financial literacy, the initiative equips women to participate in the formal economy and explore entrepreneurship pathways. STEP not only supports women in earning livelihoods but also boosts their confidence and independence through skill ownership.
4. Udaan Chronicles
Tide’s Udaan Chronicles, an advocacy-cum-mentorship roadshow, is designed to empower small business owners, especially women in semi-urban and rural India, through focused upskilling and financial education. The initiative equips women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge in business management, credit systems, and digital financial tools, while offering mentorship and guidance to help them scale sustainably. Complementing this are programmes such as the Bharat Women Aspiration Index (BWAI) and the Local Role Model Programme, which together nurture a strong community of women entrepreneurs championing local growth and economic transformation.
5. Digital Naari Initiative
PayNearby’s Digital Naari Program is a self-sustaining micro-entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers women across Bharat with a secure platform to become banking and digital Didis in their communities and ensure long-term livelihood for themselves. The program’s mission is to build grassroots community influencers who drive awareness and improve access to essential services like banking, health, sanitation, insurance, and credit for other women in their areas. In the process, the Digital Naaris ensure stable income for themselves and their families.
Over 1.5 lakh women across 10,000+ PIN codes have already been onboarded, facilitating over Rs10,000 crore in transactions annually. More than 60% of these women are first-time entrepreneurs, earning Rs3,500–Rs5,000 per month, creating a ripple effect of financial inclusion at the grassroots level. PayNearby also partners with State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), microfinance networks, and NGOs like UPSRLM, Rajeevika, and Grameen Foundation India to expand its reach. Together, they are transforming rural women into community catalysts, driving India toward a more inclusive and financially empowered future.
