Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that loans worth over 12 lakh crore rupees have been disbursed to women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, DAY-NRLM. The Minister said this while speaking at the Samriddh Didi se Samriddh Rashtra, a felicitation ceremony of Lakhpati Didis in New Delhi. The government invited these Didis as special guests for this year’s Republic Day.
Mr Chouhan informed that 10 crore women are now part of Self-Help Groups, and the government aims to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis. Highlighting the future plans of the Ministry, he said an additional 8 lakh crore rupees has been provided for infrastructure and training, and women will now be able to access individual loans. Mr Chouhan added that Saras Melas will be organised across all states to help women in marketing their products. He urged Lakhpati Didis to bring more women into government initiatives for inclusive and self-reliant rural development.
On the occasion, Minister of State for Rural Development Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said that a prosperous nation is impossible to build without the full empowerment of its women. He stated that women contribute nearly 18% to India’s GDP, with one-third of MSMEs owned by women and around 10% of start-ups led by women entrepreneurs. Dr Pemmasani emphasised that Samriddh Didi se Samriddh Rashtra is not just a slogan but a national mission.
