Lakhpati Didi initiative to empower 2.3 lakh women in J&K

Srinagar, Feb 2: The 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative is set to witness significant expansion in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing prosperity to 2,30,000 women in the Union Territory.

Official figures reveal that out of this targeted number, more than 46 thousand women have already attained the coveted status of Lakhpati Didi. The initiative, aimed at empowering women economically, has garnered positive momentum, with thousands benefiting from the financial empowerment it provides.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the expansion of the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme during the Budget 2024 presentation in Parliament on Thursday, February 1.

Welcoming the centre's move, Mission Director of Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), Indu Kanwal Chib said that this is a great women empowerment initiative and it has the potential to make women self-reliant.

Chib said that in Jammu and Kashmir, over 46 thousand women have already achieved Lakhpati status under the initiative.

She said that the focus is on skill upgradation, providing training to women and giving them opportunities in various fields such as agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, dairy farming, handicrafts, and more.

"We are actively working on skill development, recognising that increased investment and infrastructure are crucial for women to attain Lakhpati status. The diversity of fields these women are engaged in showcases the program's versatility," Chib said.

The JKRLM Mission Director said that they have completed this year's target, with 18 thousand women becoming Lakhpati Didis." Under this initiative, we are aiming to register more women in the upcoming year," she said.

"This initiative is a pivotal step towards fostering self-reliance among women, and we are determined to continue this trajectory of success," she affirmed.

Khalid Zargar, an officer at JKRLM told Greater Kashmir that they have a target to empower 2, 30,000 women under the Lakhpati Didi initiative in the UT." We are conducting training of the women in rural pockets, " he said.

The 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative aims to empower women, signalling a positive shift in the socio-economic landscape of rural India.

The 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative, championing Self-Help Groups (SHGs), has emerged as a powerful force for change, catalyzing the transformation of the rural economy by fostering financial independence among women.