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The Jan Aushadhi Kendra (JAK) pharmacy outlets, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), turns out to be attracting more women entrepreneurs to set up their businesses in various parts of the country, according to data from the Central government.
Data shows that almost 59% of the total JAKs opened in the last three years were by women entrepreneurs and a State-wise break up shows that of the total JAKs opened in six States, more than 70% are by women, while in another six States, more than 60% of the JAKs were set up by women.
In terms of percentage of women owned JAKs, Chandgarh stands at 85.7%, with six out of the total seven outlets opened during the three years opened by women. Kerala stands as second with 79.84%, with 499 out of the total 625 outlets opened during the period were by women entrepreneurs.
Odisha is in the third spot with 279 out of the 354 JAKs opened during the period were by women (78.8%), followed by Bihar with 415 out of the 557 JAKs opened during the period (74%), Himachal Pradesh with 10 out of 14 JAKs (71.4%), and Tamil Nadu with 489 out of 686 JAKs (71.28%).
Delhi witnessed 96 out of the 145 JAKs opened during the last three years, started by women entrepreneurs (66.2%), while Haryana saw 156 out of 236 JAKs (66.1%), Rajasthan with 248 out of 384 JAKs (64.58%), Puducherry with 9 out of 14 JAKs (64.28%), West Bengal with 296 out of 475 JAKs (62.3%), and Dadra & Nagar Haveli; Daman & Diu with three out of five JAKs (60%) opened by women entrepreneurs during the period.
While Nagaland and Lakshadweep opened three and one JAKs respectively during the period, no women entrepreneur were leading these initiatives.
The lowest turnout of women entrepreneurs for the affordable generic pharmacy initiative was from Jammu & Kashmir, with 49 out of the 203 JAKs (24.13%) set up during the period were from women entrepreneurs, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 46 out of 184 outlets (25%), Manipur with six out of 23 outlets (26%), and Assam with 26 out of 89 outlets (29%), according to the data.
"Out of 7,737 JAKs opened during the last three financial years, 4,567 JAKs have been opened by women entrepreneurs across the country," said Anupriya Patel, minister of state in the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, in Lok Sabha during the ongoing session.
Under PMBJP, a total of 16,912 Jan Aushdhi Kendras (JAKs) have been opened till June 30, 2025 across the country, of which 7,737 JAKs have been opened during the last three financial years. Across the country, total sales of Rs. 4,730.61 crore MRP value have been made under PMBJP during the last three financial years.
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