Goa’s approach to rural development is increasingly placing women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) at the centre of local economic growth. Through the Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission (GSRLM), Swayampurna Goa and a range of women-focused initiatives, the State is working to create opportunities for women to become entrepreneurs, generate sustainable incomes and contribute to self-reliant villages.
At a Glance:
- GSRLM is a key platform for rural women’s economic empowerment
- Goa had 3,430 registered SHGs with 44,558 members as of December 2025
- North Goa: 2,129 SHGs with 27,623 members
- South Goa: 1,301 SHGs with 16,935 members
- 781 new SHGs were promoted between 2020-21 and December 2025
- The mission promotes self-employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods
- Women’s SHGs are engaged in food processing, tailoring, handicrafts and small-scale farming
Source: Economic Survey Goa 2025-2026
The Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission (GSRLM) focuses on helping rural communities move towards self-employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods. Women’s SHGs are involved in activities such as food processing, tailoring, handicrafts and small-scale farming, creating additional sources of income for families.
Read More: A New Ride for Goa: How New KTCL Buses Will Transform Public Transport
Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana
The Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, launched in October 2023 under the Swayampurna Goa Mission, is a key initiative aimed at promoting livelihood opportunities and economic empowerment among women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) registered under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
Under the scheme, eligible women SHGs are given the opportunity to operate canteens and catering services in Government and Semi-Government offices. This creates a reliable institutional market for SHGs while ensuring the availability of hygienic and quality food to employees and visitors.
The initiative has already created a growing network of women-led enterprises. As per the Economic Survey 2025-26 194 SHGs have been empanelled under the scheme, while 16 canteens are operational, collectively generating an average monthly turnover of ₹13.08 lakh. This demonstrates how government-supported market opportunities can help SHGs convert their skills into sustainable sources of income.
To ensure professional standards, SHG members managing these canteens have received professional training from the Institute of Hotel Management, Porvorim, along with FOSTAC certification, helping them maintain required food safety, hygiene and quality standards.
The scheme therefore goes beyond providing financial assistance. By connecting women SHGs with training, institutional markets and regular income opportunities, the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana provides a model of women-led institutional entrepreneurship. It strengthens the financial independence of rural and urban women while contributing to Goa’s broader vision of Swayampurna, a more self-reliant and economically empowered Goa.
Read More: Goa Strengthens Education and Employment with 222 New Teacher Appointments
Bringing SHGs Closer to Markets
Goa is also focusing on the crucial step beyond production — market access.
The G-Food Festival 2026, organised under GSRLM, created structured market linkages for SHGs and promoted traditional Goan cuisine, local products and rural enterprises. The event also showcased the potential of women-led SHGs under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana.
The Government has also introduced the Goa Chavath e-Bazaar, an online marketplace for local women entrepreneurs and SHGs under the Swayampurna Goa initiative. Such digital platforms can help local products reach customers beyond the immediate village market.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform
Goa took another significant step towards strengthening its women-led entrepreneurship ecosystem with the launch of the Goa State Chapter of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) by NITI Aayog at Lok Bhawan, Goa, on May 14, 2026.
The Chapter was inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, marking an important step towards creating greater opportunities for women to start, grow and sustain their businesses. The initiative seeks to support women entrepreneurs through strategic partnerships, skilling initiatives, market linkages, mentorship and institutional support.
Implemented with the involvement of the Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission (GSRLM) and the Department of Rural Development, the platform can also provide women SHGs and emerging entrepreneurs with greater access to training, networking, funding opportunities and enterprise development support.
The launch reflects NITI Aayog’s broader commitment to women-led development and inclusive economic growth, while giving Goa’s women entrepreneurs a stronger ecosystem to turn ideas and skills into sustainable enterprises. It also marks a shift from simply encouraging women’s participation in economic activity towards helping them build, expand and lead businesses.
Read More: Goa Targets Up to 8,000 New Jobs in Six Months
Clean Energy and Rural Women
Goa is also linking women’s empowerment with clean-energy innovation through the RE4Gender Idea Competition, launched by the Government on January 12, 2026. The initiative aims to encourage women-led renewable-energy solutions that can improve livelihoods in agriculture, fisheries and allied sectors, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
Implemented in collaboration with the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA), District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and GIZ, the competition is open to Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), NGOs, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and small businesses registered in Goa and working in relevant sectors.
RE4Gender encourages participants to develop practical clean-energy solutions, including the use of solar power, to reduce the physical drudgery faced by women, save time and operational costs, and improve productivity. This makes renewable energy not only an environmental intervention but also a tool for improving women’s livelihoods and strengthening rural enterprises.
Skill Development for Girls and Women
Women’s economic empowerment also depends on access to skills. In July 2026, Goa launched the Mukhyamantri Sukanya Kaushal Vikas Protsahan Yojana-2026, extending a 100% tuition fee waiver to female candidates enrolling in Government ITIs from the 2026-27 academic year.
The initiative aims to increase female participation in technical training, improve employability and encourage economic self-reliance among women.
Building Self-Reliant Rural Goa
Together, these initiatives create a broader model of rural empowerment organising women into SHGs, providing skills and finance, creating markets for their products and services, and connecting them with new technology and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The objective is not simply to provide financial assistance, but to create a stronger ecosystem in which rural women can build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the economic strength of their families and communities.
In this sense, women’s empowerment has become an important component of Goa’s larger Swayampurna vision building villages that are economically, socially and environmentally self-reliant.
Read More: Goa Just Deleted 9,525 ‘Ghost’ Electricity Accounts: Here’s What That Means for You