Lakhpati Didi Initiative - Empowering Rural Women through Sustainable Livelihoods

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) has successfully mobilized over 10 crore households into 91 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Building on this success, the Lakhpati Didi Initiative aims to create sustainable livelihoods for SHG members, with the goal of ensuring that each household earns a minimum annual income of one lakh rupees.

Who is a Lakhpati Didi?

A “Lakhpati Didi” is a member of an SHG who earns an annual household income of at least 1 lakh. This income is calculated over at least four agricultural seasons or business cycles, with a sustained average monthly income of 10,000 or more. The Lakhpati Didi initiative is a key component of DAY-NRLM, focusing on enhancing household incomes through diversified and sustainable livelihood options.

Strategy for the Lakhpati Didi Initiative

1. Deepening and Diversifying Livelihoods: The initiative seeks to deepen and diversify incomegenerating activities for SHG members. Trained Community Resource Persons (CRPs) facilitate livelihood planning, utilizing digital tools for consolidation and resource linkages.

2. Implementation Support: The initiative provides SHG members with necessary support, including:

a. Assets: Inputs, equipment, and infrastructure required for livelihood activities.

b. Skills: Training in both knowledge and practical skills relevant to their chosen livelihood.

c. Access to Finance: Facilitating bank linkages, leveraging government schemes, and tapping into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

d. Marketing Support: Assistance with branding, packaging, and access to e-commerce platforms.

3. Convergence and Partnerships: The initiative promotes convergence between various government schemes and departments, such as the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), and Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), to mobilize resources and build the capacity of SHG federations.

4. Training and Capacity Building: Continuous training and capacity-building efforts are directed at mission staff, line department officials, community institutions, and resource persons to ensure the success of the initiative.

Significance of the Lakhpati Didi Initiative

Financial Empowerment of Women: By 2025, the initiative aims to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, enabling women to achieve financial independence and improve their standard of living.

Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Employment: The initiative encourages women to start microenterprises, fostering entrepreneurship and generating employment opportunities. For example, Lakhpati Didis have successfully launched tailoring businesses after acquiring the necessary skills.

Role Models of Women Empowerment: Lakhpati Didis serve as role models, inspiring other women to adopt sustainable livelihood practices and achieve a decent standard of living. They also play a key role in spreading financial literacy, skill development, and livelihood assistance.

Rural Economic Development: The collective impact of empowered women entrepreneurs under the Lakhpati Didi initiative contributes significantly to rural economic development, as seen in the Kondagaon block of Chhattisgarh.

Other Government Initiatives for Women Empowerment

Economic Empowerment:

a. Promotion of equal pay for equal work through new labor codes.

b. Implementation of maternity leave and childcare policies under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017.

c. Access to finance and entrepreneurship training through schemes like the Mudra Yojana and Mahila Udyam Nidhi Yojana.

Political Empowerment:

a. The Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

b. The 73rd and 74th Amendments provided 33% reservation for women in local bodies, with some states increasing this to 50%.

c. Encouragement of political parties to nominate more women candidates.

Social Empowerment:

a. Efforts to end child marriage and safeguard sexual and reproductive health rights through the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021.

b. Protection of women’s land rights through the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) and the implementation of gender-responsive budgeting.

Way Forward

Effective Monitoring and Evaluation: Robust data collection and analysis should be employed to assess the impact of the initiative and identify areas for improvement.

Skill Development Training Programs: Training programs should align with market demands, equipping women with practical skills for success in micro-enterprises.

Enhanced Market Access: The initiative should focus on technology-driven solutions and improving digital infrastructure to enhance market access for Lakhpati Didis.

Government and Institutional Collaboration: Effective collaboration among government departments, NGOs, and the private sector is crucial for creating a holistic support system for women entrepreneurs.