NEARLY 1 CRORE WOMEN ASSISTED TO BECOME LAKHPATI DIDI

83 LAKH SHGS WITH 9 CRORE WOMEN TRANSFORMING RURAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE WITH EMPOWERMENT AND SELF-RELIANCE

Whilepresenting the Interim Budget 2024-25 in Parliament today, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman announced that it has been decided to enhance the target for Lakhpati Didi from  2 crore to 3 crore.

The Union Minister said that  eighty-three lakh SHGs with nine crore women are transforming rural socio-economic landscape with empowerment and self-reliance. Their success has assisted nearly one crore women to become Lakhpati Didi already. They are an inspiration to others. Their achievements will be recognized through honouring them. The Finance Minister stated that buoyed by the success, the target for Lakhpati Didi  had been enhanced.

The Finance Minister stated that our Prime Minister firmly believes, we need to focus on four major castes. They are, ‘Garib’ (Poor), ‘Mahilayen’ (Women), ‘Yuva’ (Youth) and  ‘Annadata’(Farmer). “Their needs, their aspirations, and their welfare are our highest priority. The country progresses, when they progress”. She added that all four require and receive government support in their quest to better their lives and their empowerment and well-being will drive the country forward”.

She further emphasized that the Government is working with an approach to development that is all-round, all-pervasive and all-inclusive (सर्वांगीण, सर्वस्पर्शी और सर्वसमावेशी). It covers all castes and people at all levels. The Government is working to make India a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, she said. “For achieving that goal, we need to improve people’s capability and empower them”.

Target expansion for Lakhpati Didi to broaden beneficiary reach and recognise self help group achievements nationwide. Enhancement of the Lakhpati Didi target from two crore to three crore beneficiaries is announced to expand reach and recognise demonstrated successes of self help groups; 83 lakh SHGs with nine crore women have reshaped rural socio economic conditions and about one crore women have already become Lakhpati Didi, prompting scale up and formal recognition of achievements.