In Gujarat, ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme empowers lakhs of women

Gandhinagar, June 28 (IANS) The Lakhpati Didi scheme, a Central government scheme for improving the livelihoods of poor households and ensuring their financial inclusion, is brining paradigm shift in the lives of lakhs of women in Gujarat.

Many beneficiaries of the scheme shared how the Lakhpati Didi yojana helped empower them financially while also giving an opportunity to turn ‘atma nirbhar’ with their hard work.

Bhavnaben Patel, a ‘Lakhpati Didi’ from Nogama village in Chikhli Taluka of Navsari district started her entrepreneurship journey, some years ago, through government assistance.

Associated with ‘Gayatri Sakhi Mandal’ (Self-Help Group), she ventured into the canteen and catering business under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and Gujarat government’s ‘Mission Mangalam’ initiative.

Today, she is not only running a successful canteen in Navsari but also earning an annual income exceeding Rs 10 lakh.

Speaking to IANS, Bhavnaben Patel said, “My self-help group (SHG) is named ‘Gayatri Sakhi Mandal’, ten of us sisters work in this group. We have been running a canteen at the District Panchayat for three years. We started the canteen with Rs 10 lakh in assistance received from the government. Today, all ten of us sisters are self-reliant; I sincerely thank the government and GLPC for this.”

Like Bhavnaben, Komalben Chauhan from Gamdi village in Anand district established her own business — ‘Aastha Sakhi Mandal’. She crafts items such as earthen lamps (diyas) and Ganesha idols, as well as patch-work products, ‘torans’ (door hangings), and bedsheets. Today, 50 to 60 women from the village are associated with her group and earning up to Rs 10,000 per month.

Komalben Chauhan told IANS, “The name of my group is ‘Aastha Sakhi Mandal’. I started this group in May 2014. At that time, it consisted of only 10 women, but now, in 2024, 60 to 70 women are associated with me. Whenever I go out now, people say — Lakhpati Didi has arrived. It is a matter of great pride for me to have gained this new identity.”

Rekhaben, another beneficiary said, “We have been associated with the Aastha group for 10 years. Previously, we didn’t do any work at home, but after joining the group, we handle all these tasks. We are now standing on our own feet; this enables us to earn a livelihood and run our households.”

Notably, the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme is a pan-India scheme being run under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) of the Ministry of Rural Development.

Under this initiative, women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are provided with technical training, financial assistance, loans, and market access.

At present, there are more than three crore Lakhpati Didis across the country, and Gujarat has emerged as one of the leading states, with nearly six lakh Lakhpati Didis.

–IANS

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