Everything You Need to Know About the TREAD Scheme for Women-Led MSMEs
Women entrepreneurs in India have historically faced unequal access to credit, training, and market opportunities. These challenges are even more pronounced for women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those who are illiterate or semi-literate in rural and semi-urban areas. Recognising this structural gap, the Government of India introduced the Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) Scheme during the Ninth Five-Year Plan through the Ministry of MSME . The TREAD scheme was designed as a holistic support system to help women transition from informal economic activities into sustainable, non-farm micro and small enterprises. What is the TREAD Scheme? The Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) scheme is a government initiative aimed at promoting women entrepreneurship by providing credit support, training, and business development assistance . Unlike conventional loan schemes, TREAD addresses both financi...