Prime Minister Narendra Modi will honor 11 lakh new ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and engage with them during a special event in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, as announced by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday.
Chouhan, who oversees the Ministry of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, revealed that the prime minister will recognize women who have achieved an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more, acknowledging their efforts in lifting their families out of poverty.
Additionally, Modi will unveil a Rs 2,500 crore revolving fund aimed at benefiting approximately 4.3 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) with nearly 48 lakh members.
A substantial bank loan of Rs 5,000 crore will also be distributed to 2,35,400 SHGs, benefiting around 25.8 lakh members, according to Chouhan during a press conference.
The event will have a virtual connection to about 30,000 district headquarters and Community Level Federations (CLFs) across 34 states and Union Territories, showcasing its extensive reach and impact.
The ‘Lakhpati Didis’ are women who have successfully earned Rs 1 lakh or more annually through their entrepreneurial ventures, predominantly within self-help groups. Chouhan expressed pride in their accomplishments, highlighting that the government has already created one crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and aims to reach three crore within the next three years. This initiative is a part of a larger effort to enhance the economic and social status of women.
The Ministry of Rural Development has established a systematic approach to help SHG families achieve an annual income of Rs 1,00,000 or more. This includes training national resource persons, developing master trainers in each state, and instructing Community Resource Persons (CRPs) in business planning, financing, and convergence.
A dedicated group of 300,000 CRPs, skilled in business planning and SHG member development, has been instrumental in this initiative. Some of these CRPs will be recognized at the event for their outstanding contributions, Chouhan added.
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