CASMB successfully hosts “Prerna” Women Empowerment Summit & celebrates 6th Foundation Day in Mumbai

On 17 March 2026, the Chamber of Advancement of Small & Medium Businesses (CASMB) successfully concluded the “Prerna” Women Empowerment Summit, held alongside its 6th Foundation Day celebrations at Bharat Ratnam, SEEPZ, Andheri East, Mumbai. The landmark event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators, creating a powerful platform to celebrate women’s leadership and strengthen the MSME ecosystem in India.

The summit witnessed strong participation from across sectors, reaffirming CASMB’s commitment to enabling collaboration, knowledge exchange, and inclusive business growth, with a special focus on women-led enterprises.

A journey of impact and purpose

The event commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Prabodh Halde, Chairman, CASMB, who reflected on the organization’s journey and its growing impact. What began as a helpline initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to support distressed small businesses has evolved into a robust platform supporting over 1,000 startups, including 300–500 women entrepreneurs, and reaching more than 4,000 students through various initiatives.

Highlighting the essence of the summit’s theme, he described “Prerna” not merely as a word, but as a philosophy—representing Power, Resilience, Empowerment, Nurturing, Adaptability, and Energy—qualities embodied by women across professional and personal spheres. He emphasized that the summit is dedicated to celebrating this spirit and enabling meaningful learning, dialogue, and collaboration.

Dr. Halde also announced new initiatives, including a podcast series and an educational content initiative by Dr Smita Lele and her grandson Master Aarav Lele under the FSSAI’s “Eat Right” program titled “Wonder Boy and Wonder Grandma,” aimed at simplifying food safety and nutrition concepts for wider audiences.

Strong emphasis on ethical business and sustainability

Ms. Pritee Chaoudhary, IRS, Regional Director, FSSAI Western Region, Mumbai, delivered a compelling address during the inaugural session, underscoring the critical role of MSMEs in India’s economic and social fabric. She highlighted that small and medium enterprises are not only the backbone of the economy but also vital drivers of rural development and self-reliance.

She stressed the importance of ethical and value-driven business practices, drawing inspiration from principles of truth, non-exploitation, and sustainability. “Profit must not come at the cost of fairness,” she noted, emphasizing the need for responsible entrepreneurship that balances growth with social and environmental impact.

She also advocated for strengthening rural economies to reduce urban migration and called for a shift toward sustainable, decentralized development. Recognizing women as key contributors to both economic and social progress, she emphasized that their contributions—paid and unpaid—must be acknowledged as integral to national growth. 

Inspiring leadership from the Chief Guest

The inaugural session was graced by J. B. Joshi, Padma Bhushan awardee and Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, who delivered an inspiring address rooted in real-world innovation and impact. Through a compelling case study on cashew apple waste utilization, he demonstrated how research-driven entrepreneurship can create scalable solutions that benefit farmers and local economies.

Encouraging resilience and perseverance, he urged entrepreneurs to embrace challenges with optimism and focus on long-term impact rather than short-term gains. He said, “In any new venture, you will face challenges—quality issues, regulatory hurdles, operational difficulties, even failures. But do not get discouraged. Never cry over difficulties. Always face them with a smile. If you keep smiling and moving forward, your business will grow.”

The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr Nilesh Lele, President, CASMB, acknowledging the contributions of all stakeholders.

Insightful panel on women in MSMEs

A key highlight of the summit was a high-impact panel discussion on women’s leadership and the evolving MSME landscape, moderated by Ms. Harsha Almad (VP, Global People & Change and India Consulting Hub Lead, Wipro Limited). The panel featured distinguished speakers including Dr. Shilpa Vora (Chief R&D Officer Marico Limited), Ms. Viju Sirsath, Jt. Director of Industries, Government of Maharashtra and Ms. Ashwini Pable, Founder Rewanta Fashions Private Limited.

The panel discussion on women empowerment in MSMEs highlighted the critical role of Nari Shakti in driving India’s economic growth, while also underlining the stark gender gap that still exists. With MSMEs contributing nearly 30% to India’s GDP but only a small share attributed to women, the conversation emphasized the immense untapped potential that greater inclusion could unlock. The speakers collectively noted that bridging this gap could significantly boost the country’s economy, especially given that women tend to reinvest a large portion of their earnings back into society.

At the heart of the discussion was the idea that empowerment begins from within. As Dr Shilpa Vora aptly put it, “Believe in yourself and stand up for yourself—no one else will do it for you.” The conversation reinforced that confidence, self-belief, and the courage to claim one’s space are fundamental for women navigating the MSME ecosystem. At the same time, empowerment is not just an individual journey but also one supported by systems. The importance of digitization, financial access, and policy support was strongly emphasized, with the government playing a key role in creating an enabling environment through incentives and ease-of-doing-business initiatives.

The discussion also brought forward a deeper perspective on entrepreneurship, framing empowerment as a responsibility rather than just a position of power. As shared during the session, “Empowerment is about how you use your power to create a visible difference in people’s lives and for the planet.” This aligned closely with the growing need for purpose-driven businesses that balance profitability with sustainability and long-term impact.

Sustainability itself emerged as a central theme, with panellist stressing that it should not be treated as an add-on but as a core business mindset. From circular economy practices to responsible sourcing and production, the idea was clear: sustainable thinking must be embedded into the foundation of businesses. In parallel, the integration of technology—especially AI—was identified as a defining factor for the future. The consensus was that businesses of tomorrow will need to seamlessly combine sustainability with technology to remain competitive and relevant.

Another key insight was the power of collaboration. The panel highlighted that entrepreneurship does not thrive in isolation, and that partnerships between government bodies, institutions, and private enterprises are essential for building a strong MSME ecosystem. Leveraging existing networks and infrastructure can significantly accelerate growth, particularly for emerging entrepreneurs.

Interestingly, the conversation challenged the notion of external barriers, with one speaker noting, “The real challenge often lies in our own mindset—how we perceive ourselves determines how the world treats us.” This perspective shifted the focus toward internal conditioning, confidence, and the need to overcome societal grooming that may limit women’s ambitions. The importance of speaking up and being visible was also strongly reinforced: “Even if you are the only woman in the room, stand up and speak—you represent many others.”

The panel underscored that continuous learning and adaptability are essential traits for success. In a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by technology and shifting market dynamics, staying relevant requires constant upskilling and openness to change. As one panellist reflected, “If you are not learning every day, you are not evolving.”

The session concluded on an inspiring note, with reflections on personal motivation and purpose. Many speakers drew inspiration from strong women figures in their lives, reinforcing that empowerment often begins at home and is shaped by early experiences. Ultimately, the discussion made it clear that women-led MSMEs are not just about inclusion—they are an economic imperative. With the right blend of self-belief, supportive ecosystems, and forward-looking strategies, women have the potential to redefine the future of India’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Showcasing entrepreneurial excellence

The summit spotlighted inspiring entrepreneurial journeys from CASMB members, including Dr. Manasi Kulkarni, Mr. Kaushal Dongre, Mr. Manesh Damani, Mr. Mihir Desai, Ms. Richa Sharma, Mr. Ark Agarwal, Mr. Yash Rajani, and Ms. Abhishek Ayachit. Their stories reflected resilience, innovation, and strategic thinking, offering valuable, real-world insights into overcoming business challenges, scaling operations, and adapting to evolving market dynamics.

Knowledge sharing through power talks

Adding further value to the event were two engaging power talks:

• Subodh Surve (FoodChain ID India) highlighted the importance of global certifications in enhancing business credibility and growth

• Yamaji Malkar shared perspectives on navigating global economic and geopolitical shifts impacting Indian businesses

Awards, Recognition & Book Launch

A Grand Finale: Ancient Wisdom & Modern Excellence

The "Prerna" Summit reached its peak with a high-energy Valedictory Session that blended philosophical depth with industry celebration.

The Orchestration

The evening was seamlessly steered by Ms. Subha Nishtala (Director, CASMB) as emcee, while Mr. Nilesh Lele (President, CASMB) opened the ceremony by reflecting on five years of CASMB’s impact.

The Book Launch: “Food Culture in Mahabharat”

A major highlight was the unveiling of Food Culture in Mahabharat, co-authored by Dr. Prabodh Halde and Mr. Anil Dharmadhikari. This work bridges the gap between ancient culinary traditions and modern scientific analysis, marking a significant milestone in Indian food research.

Insights from the Dais

Dr. Alka Rao (Advisor, FSSAI): Declared MSMEs as the "backbone of the Indian economy," highlighting FSSAI's roadmap for small business growth.

Dr. Giridhar Parvatam (Director, CFTRI): Revealed a powerful metric—890 technologies transferred to industry in five years—urging MSMEs to embrace these ready-to-use innovations.

Mr. Milind Barapatre (Director, MSME Dept): Provided a tactical snapshot of Maharashtra Government schemes designed to fuel small-scale expansion.

The Hypnotic Keynote: Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj

Chief Guest Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj (Former MP and Actor) captivated the room with a masterful address. He didn't just speak; he hypnotized the audience by translating Vedic concepts into a modern business manual:

If a business follows Dharma—the law of the land—in both spirit and letter, you achieve Moksha. In practical terms, that means attaining a good night’s sleep every single day through pure integrity."

Honoring the Trailblazers

The ceremony celebrated excellence by conferring:

* National CASMB Awards: Recognizing over a dozen innovative startups and entrepreneurs.

* CASMB Fellowships: Felicitating four distinguished industry leaders for their lifelong contributions.

The summit concluded with a sincere Vote of Thanks by Dr. Umesh Kamble, leaving the 200+ attendees inspired and ready for the next chapter of Indian MSME growth.