Govt. raises Lakhpati Didi scheme target

Subject: Schemes

Sec: Vulnerable section

Context:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the interim Budget for 2024-25, said the target for training ‘Lakhpati Didi’ would be increased from the existing 2 crore to 3 crore.

Key Facts:

Eighty-three lakh self-help groups with 9 crore women are transforming the rural socio-economic landscape with empowerment and self-reliance.

Lakhpati Didi Scheme:

It was announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2023.
Objective: To encourage women to start micro-enterprises within their villages.
Under the Lakhpati Didi Initiative, the government aims to train two crore women.
The programme is aimed at training women in self-help groups (SHGs) so that they can earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per annum per household.
The initiative has been initiated by DAY-NRLM, wherein each SHG household is encouraged to take up multiple livelihood activities coupled with value chain interventions, resulting in a sustainable income of Rs 1 lakh or more per year.
Under this scheme, women will be trained in various skills, such as plumbing, LED bulb making, drone operation and repair, and tailoring and weaving.
After completing the training, women will be provided with opportunities to earn income using their skills.
The ministry of rural development is adopting a whole-of-government approach for maximum impact through convergence to transform the rural economy with the enabling of ‘Lakhpati Didis’.