Tue Aug 05 15:09:55 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on it:
**Summary:**
The Kerala government is launching a new subsidized loan scheme to promote women-led entrepreneurship within the state’s women-friendly tourism initiative. The scheme, a collaboration between the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) and the Responsible Tourism Mission, will offer loans at 4% interest to registered enterprises. The government has allocated ₹4 crore to the project, aiming to support approximately 18,000 registered individuals seeking to start businesses in 24 different tourism-related categories. Officials believe this is a first-of-its-kind scheme in India and will serve as a model for women’s entrepreneurship in the tourism sector.
**News Article:**
**Kerala Launches Subsidized Loan Scheme to Boost Women’s Entrepreneurship in Tourism**
**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, August 5, 2025** – The Kerala government has announced a new initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs within the state’s thriving tourism sector. A special subsidy loan scheme, a collaborative effort between the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) and the Responsible Tourism Mission, aims to encourage women-led businesses in the tourism industry.
The announcement was made following a meeting on Tuesday attended by Public Works and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas and Minister for Women and Child Development Veena George.
The scheme will offer loans at a subsidized interest rate of 4% to enterprises registered under the women-friendly tourism scheme of the Responsible Tourism Mission. With approximately 18,000 individuals already registered and expressing interest in starting ventures across 24 diverse categories, the initiative has garnered significant early interest.
“The KSWDC will provide all support to the scheme to promote women-friendly tourism,” stated Ms. George. “This will be the first time in the country that such a scheme is being launched for women’s enterprises in the tourism sector. The KSWDC will complete the procedures for implementing the project quickly.”
The Tourism department has allocated ₹4 crore to the scheme, ensuring the availability of funds to support the ambitious project. Minister Riyas emphasized that the initiative would provide vital financial assistance to these aspiring entrepreneurs, subject to KSWDC’s conditions.
K. Rupeshkumar, Chief Executive Officer of the Responsible Tourism Mission Society, and Bindu V.C., managing director of KSWDC, have been tasked with coordinating the project’s implementation. The government hopes that this collaborative effort will serve as a model for promoting women’s entrepreneurship across other sectors. The initiative reflects Kerala’s commitment to fostering economic opportunities for women while enhancing its reputation as a leading tourism destination.
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