Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced that the government has decided to enhance the target for ‘Lakhpati Didi’ from two crore to three crore women.
While presenting the interim Budget 2024-25, she said, “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.
“Buoyed by the success, it has been decided to enhance the target for Lakhpati Didi from 2 crore to 3 crore,” she said.
The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech last year.
Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Dat, the PM had said, “”It is my dream to make two crore ‘lakhpati didis’ in the country.”
The objective of the initiative is to encourage women to start micro-enterprises within their villages. The programme is aimed at training women in SHGs so as to enable them to earn at least Rs one lakh per annum for each household.
Under the initiative, women will be trained for various skills, including weaving, tailoring, LED bulb making, plumbing, drone operators, among others.