The government is running several schemes to make women financially strong and independent.
One such important initiative is the Lakhpati Didi Scheme, which focuses on skill development and entrepreneurship.
The goal is simple — help women earn well, start businesses, and improve their family income in a sustainable way.
What is the Lakhpati Didi Scheme?
The Lakhpati Didi Scheme is part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development.
Recently, the government increased its target from 2 crore to 3 crore women.
A woman is called a Lakhpati Didi when her family earns ₹1 lakh or more annually or at least ₹10,000 per month, and this income is maintained for four agricultural seasons or business cycles.
The scheme mainly focuses on women living in rural areas.
Skill Training to Build Self-Reliance
Under this scheme, women receive training that helps them find jobs or start their own businesses.
The focus is on practical and income-generating skills.
Women are trained in areas like drone flying and repair through the Namo Drone Didi initiative.
They also learn technical and entrepreneurial skills such as LED bulb manufacturing, plumbing, tailoring, and sewing.
These skills help women earn a steady income close to home.
Easy Loans and Financial Support
Women who are members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) can take bank loans without any guarantee.
Banks provide collateral-free loans of up to ₹20 lakh, helping women start or expand small businesses.
The government also supports SHGs directly.
Each eligible SHG receives a revolving fund of ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 to give small loans within the group.
In addition, SHGs can get up to ₹2.5 lakh as a Community Investment Fund (CIF) to support income-generating activities.
Interest Subsidy and Extra Banking Benefits
To reduce the financial burden, the government offers interest subsidy on loans up to ₹1.5 lakh.
This makes repayment easier for women borrowers.
Women SHG members who have Jan Dhan accounts also get an overdraft facility of up to ₹5,000, allowing them to withdraw money quickly during emergencies.
Who Can Apply?
To benefit from this scheme, a woman must be a member of a Self-Help Group.
The scheme is mainly for rural women.
Basic documents required include an Aadhaar card, SHG membership proof, bank account details, and a mobile number.
Gorakhpur’s Lakhpati Didi Meets the Prime Minister
Mansha Devi from Gorakhpur is a shining example of the scheme’s success.
In just one year, she transformed her life and became a Lakhpati Didi.
She will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on January 26.
Earlier earning very little, Mansha Devi now works as an e-rickshaw trainer.
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, her monthly income has increased to ₹20,000–₹30,000, taking her annual earnings to ₹2.5–3 lakh.
Her journey shows how the Lakhpati Didi Scheme is changing lives across rural India.
