Special interaction with women entrepreneurs who are building pathways to self-reliance through the ‘Aai’ Policy during Navratri
Mumbai, October 2026: Navratri celebrates women’s strength and honours their contribution to society. With the objective of further empowering women through entrepreneurship, the Maharashtra Tourism Department is implementing the women-centric ‘Aai’ Policy, which aims to promote women entrepreneurs, develop tourism infrastructure and ensure the safety of women tourists.
The policy is providing a new direction to the economic empowerment of women in the tourism sector. Under the scheme, women beneficiaries can receive reimbursement of interest paid on loans of up to ₹15 lakh obtained from recognised banks. The interest reimbursement is directly credited to their bank accounts, providing financial support to women seeking to establish tourism-related businesses and generate employment.
Women entrepreneurs from different districts of Maharashtra have shared how the initiative has helped them build businesses, overcome financial challenges and become self-reliant.
Policy Proves Beneficial for Women
Kalyani Karale of Ved Kasturi Agro Tourism in Pune district said the financial assistance received under the ‘Aai’ Policy had helped her construct a cottage in her village in Junnar taluka.
“We have built a cottage in our village with the assistance received under the Aai Policy, and tourists come here to stay. We arrange traditional meals for them, introducing visitors to the local food culture. We also familiarise them with agricultural tourism by explaining farming practices and how different vegetables are cultivated. During the mango season, tourists can visit our orchards and enjoy fresh fruit,” she said.
Karale said she learned about the policy through an acquaintance and subsequently visited the Tourism Department office, where officials explained the scheme and guided her through the application process.
“The scheme is proving useful for women and helping them stand on their own feet. I also inform other people about the Aai Policy so that those who need assistance can benefit from it,” she added.
Encouraging Other Women to Become Entrepreneurs
Suvarna Chame of Vrindavan Agro Tourism in Latur district said she had always wanted to start a business in her village but could not do so because of financial constraints.
After learning about the policy from a local resident, she contacted the Tourism Department. Officials helped her understand the procedure and coordinated with the bank to facilitate financial assistance.
“With the support received, I am now running my own kitchen, where tourists are served traditional meals. The Aai Policy is extremely important for women, and I explain its benefits to other women as well. My business has been running smoothly for the past two years,” she said.
Financial Support Helps Establish a General Store
Seema Madhavi of Aai General Store in Nagpur district said an acquaintance had introduced her to the scheme, following which she visited the Tourism Department office.
Officials guided her through the application process and assisted her with the necessary banking documentation. With the financial support available under the policy, she established a general store and named it ‘Aai General Store’ after the scheme.
She said the Tourism Department reimburses the interest on time, providing important financial support for running her business.
YouTube Video Introduces Entrepreneur to the Policy
Sucheta Patil, who operates an agro-tourism centre in Thane district, said her establishment features a traditionally constructed wooden house and three cottages for visitors.
The centre also organises residential yoga camps on weekends. Tourists visit to experience yoga amid nature, particularly during the monsoon. The facility offers accommodation and meals, with fruit orchards featuring mangoes, cashews and chikoo, along with fresh vegetables grown on the premises.
“Our aim is to give tourists an authentic experience of rural life and the joy of being close to nature,” Patil said.
She explained that a YouTube video introduced her to the government’s ‘Aai’ Policy while she was setting up the business. She subsequently contacted the Tourism Department, whose officials inspected the proposed site. After taking a bank loan to establish the centre, she became eligible for interest reimbursement under the policy.
“The interest amount is directly credited to our bank account. The Aai Policy has provided us with financial support,” she said.
Regular Interest Reimbursement Supports Hotel Business
Sangeeta Mandavgade of Punjabrao Patil Dhaba in Amravati district said her business required substantial investment to improve facilities and provide better services to tourists.
The business took a bank loan to fund the improvements, but meeting regular interest payments became a financial challenge. She learned about the Aai Policy through friends and approached the Tourism Department for guidance.
After applying under the scheme, her business began receiving regular reimbursement of the interest paid on the loan.
“The application process and the subsequent credit of the interest amount into our bank account were smooth. This special scheme has strengthened our financial position,” she said, adding that she had also informed people in other villages and explained the policy to several women.
Financial Assistance Keeps Tour Operations Running Smoothly
Uma Deshpande, a tour operator from Nashik district who runs a business called ‘Karuya Bhramanti’, said she needed a bank loan to operate her tourism venture.
She learned about the Aai Policy from her bank manager and contacted the Tourism Department, where officials explained the application procedure and required documents.
After completing the necessary formalities, she received the benefits under the scheme within a short period.
“After receiving the bank loan, we regularly receive reimbursement of the interest amount in accordance with the Aai Policy. The financial assistance provided by the government has helped our business run smoothly,” Deshpande said.
The experiences of these women entrepreneurs highlight how Maharashtra’s ‘Aai’ Policy is helping women establish and sustain businesses across agro-tourism, food services, hospitality, retail and tour operations. By reducing the burden of loan interest, the initiative aims to expand women’s participation in the tourism economy and create more opportunities for financial independence.
