New Delhi, August 22, 2024: Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced today that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will preside over a significant event in Jalgaon, Maharashtra on August 25, 2024. The event will celebrate and honor 11 lakh women, referred to as 'Lakhpati Didis,' who have achieved an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more through their involvement in Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
During the event, the Prime Minister will also launch major financial initiatives aimed at further empowering these women and their communities. A Revolving Fund, known as the Community Investment Fund, amounting to Rs 2500 crore will be released, benefiting approximately 48 lakh members across 4.3 lakh SHGs. Additionally, a bank loan of Rs 5000 crore will be issued, which will support 25.8 lakh members of 2,35,400 SHGs.
The program will see participation from around 30,000 locations across 34 states and Union Territories through a virtual medium, including state capitals, district headquarters, and Cluster Level Federations (CLFs).
Shri Chouhan highlighted the remarkable success of the Lakhpati Didis, who have not only improved their own economic conditions but have also become role models for others in their communities. The Ministry of Rural Development has already created 1 crore Lakhpati Didis and aims to reach a target of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis within the next three years.
The structured approach adopted by the Ministry includes capacitating National Resource Persons, developing Master Trainers in each state, and training Community Resource Persons (CRPs) in business planning, financing, and convergence processes. These efforts have been pivotal in enabling SHG families to achieve an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more.
As part of the upcoming event, some of the CRPs who have played a crucial role in this initiative will also be recognized for their contributions. The Ministry has formed 15 lakh Lakhpati Didis so far, with a target to facilitate 11 lakh more within the next 100 days.
This initiative underscores the government's commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of rural women and promoting financial inclusion through SHGs.
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