Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored 11 lakh new ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon on Sunday, recognizing their achievement during his government’s third term.
The ceremony saw the beneficiaries of the Lakhpati Didi scheme express their appreciation for PM Modi’s groundbreaking initiatives aimed at women’s welfare. “We are very proud to be Lakhpati Didis. PM Modi is doing remarkable work for the welfare of women,” one beneficiary remarked. Another echoed this sentiment, saying, “We thank PM Modi as we are now Lakhpati.”
Supporting PM Modi’s vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047,’ one of the ‘Lakhpati Didis’ shared her aspiration to expand her company to 5,000 people as part of this vision.
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During the event, the Prime Minister released a revolving fund of Rs 2,500 crore, set to benefit approximately 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh self-help groups (SHGs). Additionally, PM Modi disbursed Rs 5,000 crore in bank loans to support 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs.
Lakhpati Didi Yojana
Since the launch of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, one crore women have achieved ‘Lakhpati Didi’ status, with the government aiming to elevate three crore women to this level. A ‘Lakhpati Didi’ is defined as a member of a Self-Help Group who earns an annual household income of at least Rs 1 lakh, calculated over a minimum of four agricultural seasons or business cycles, ensuring an average monthly income exceeding Rs 10,000.
These women inspire their communities not only through their earnings but through their transformative journeys. They engage in sustainable livelihood practices across various sectors, including farming, non-farming, and services, managing resources effectively to achieve a commendable standard of living.
SHG groups have played a crucial role in fostering collective action and mutual support, offering platforms for financial literacy, skill development, and livelihood assistance. The initiative has shifted from basic social and financial inclusion to empowering SHG members to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, with government backing facilitating this transition.
The Lakhpati initiative promotes diverse livelihood activities by ensuring coordination among government departments, private sector entities, and market players, involving focused planning, implementation, and monitoring at all levels.
