A journey of resilience and self-governance, the Gujarat ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme directly benefited about 1.5 lakh women in the state. With the support of this scheme, and primarily the women from rural settings achieve annual income in excess of ₹1 lakh, which remained the potent example of women’s empowerment. Gujarat takes the lead in providing economic independence to women, especially in Banaskantha and Tapi districts, with the target of empowering 10 lakh women by the year 2025.
Mission of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Scheme Gujarat
The Lakhpati Didi scheme was launched under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to economically empower 3 Crore women across the country by the year 2027. The program promotes rural women’s entrepreneurship through SHGs, skill development, and financial and market support.
In Gujarat, with the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, the scheme has gained momentum. The state is rapidly approaching the figure of 10 lakh Lakhpati Didis, with women excelling in agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts, and services.
Stories of Transformation: From Struggle to Success- ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Scheme Gujarat
Ramilaben Joshi: A Beacon of Hope
One such inspiring story is that of Ramilaben Mukeshbhai Joshi from Alwada village in Banaskantha. Starting with making diya lamps in 2024, Ramilaben earned over ₹1 lakh in just one year. She credits her success to the support of her Sakhimandal (SHG), saying, “Thanks to Sakhimandal, we got the oxygen to live.” Her journey is a testament to how the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme is transforming lives, one woman at a time.
The One Restaurant: A Tribal Success Story
Ramilaben Parshottambhai Gamit and ten women from her SHG established The One Restaurant in Karanjvel village of Tapi district, which celebrates tribal culture by serving traditional tribal cuisine. The restaurant was started with the help of the government, which provided space and equipment, and now earns ₹3.5-4 lakh per month, equating to an annual turnover of ₹41.88 lakhs in 2024. The case study demonstrates how women are utilizing local resources to venture into earning for themselves.
How the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Scheme Works
The scheme empowers women by:
- SHG Forming Groups: Women gather to pool resources and ideas.
- Training and Financial Assistance: Master trainers and community resource persons provide guidance for starting a business.
- Market Linkages: Women are linked up with markets for the selling of their products and services.
- Digital Monitoring: Every milestone is marked on the Digital Livelihood Register for tracking, allowing for transparency and support.
- Income is computed on various grounds, such as agriculture; non-farm activities; benefits accrued from government schemes; commission.
Gujarat’s Progress: A Model for the Nation
Till date, 7,98,333 women have enrolled under the scheme in Gujarat, wherein 7,66,743 constitute those successfully working in the agricultural sector. Women who are not part of this group include those working in non-agricultural handicraft, manufacturing, and service sectors. There have been significant accomplishments of the scheme especially in the tribal belt, where 30,527 women across the districts of Navsari, Valsad, and Dang have tasted success becoming ‘Lakhpati Didi’.
Government Support: A Strong Foundation
The Gujarat government has appointed 124 master trainers at the taluka level who have in their turn trained over 10,000 community resource persons engaged in the formation of SHGs and guidance of women entrepreneurs. The process is monitored digitally so that women get trained in time and receive financial aid and market access.
Prime Minister Modi’s Vision
Prime Minister Modi has been very proud of the success of the scheme stating,-“Our mothers, sisters, and daughters are a strong link to building a developed India.” The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ program not only talks about financial independence but also about empowering women to be catalysts of change in their communities.