Chouhan Sets Goal to Empower 2 Crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ by August 15

Quick Summary:

• Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that nearly 1.5 crore women in India have become ‘Lakhpati Didis,’ earning ₹1 lakh or more annually through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).Efforts are underway to raise this number to 2 crore by August 15, 2025.
• Mr. Chouhan visited Junagadh, Gujarat, at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Directorate of Groundnut Research, where he reviewed it’s activities and interacted with farmers and SHG members.
• He emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to empowering women economically under the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative, aiming for their pivotal role in building a developed India (‘Viksit Bharat’).
• Women in Junagadh reportedly earn incomes exceeding ₹10 lakhs annually through SHGs, highlighting rural women’s potential when given access to training and resources.
• The minister stressed agriculture’s central role in India’s economy and shared his direct engagement with farmers as part of policymaking.
• On July 19, Mr. Chouhan also visited Gir Somnath district landmarks such as the somnath temple and Devaliya Safari Park near Gir National Park.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative demonstrates a focused strategy towards rural women’s economic empowerment by leveraging Self-Help Groups (SHGs).This model not only addresses poverty but aligns with broader national goals such as promoting local industries (‘Vocal for Local’) and achieving enduring growth. Reports from Junagadh show promising results wherein SHG members earn substantially high incomes-indicative of the scalability of this approach if coupled with adequate training, credit linkage, and market accessibility.

Agriculture’s prominence was reinforced during Mr. Chouhan’s visit as he highlighted farming’s contribution to India’s economy alongside grassroots capacity building efforts involving rural women. while aspiring goals like increasing participants to two crore by mid-August carry potential challenges related to infrastructure expansion or financial sustainability within SHGs, successes thus far underline the transformative impact such programs can have on regional development equity across India.

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