What is Lakhpati Didi Initiative?

About Lakhpati Didi Initiative

• It was announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2023.
• Objective: To encourage women to start micro-enterprises within their villages.
• Under the Lakhpati Didi Initiative, the government aims to train two crore women.
• The programme is aimed at training women in self-help groups (SHGs) so that they can earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per annum per household.
• The initiative has been initiated by DAY-NRLM, wherein each SHG household is encouraged to take up multiple livelihood activities coupled with value chain interventions, resulting in a sustainable income of Rs 1 lakh or more per year.
• Under this scheme, women will be trained in various skills, such as plumbing, LED bulb making, drone operation and repair, and tailoring and weaving.
• After completing the training, women will be provided with opportunities to earn income using their skills.
• The ministry of rural development is adopting a whole-of-government approach for maximum impact through convergence to transform the rural economy with the enabling of ‘Lakhpati Didis’.

What is Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)?

• It is a flagship poverty alleviation program implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. 
• Aim: To reduce poverty by enabling the poor household to access gainful self-employment and skilled-wage employment opportunities, resulting in sustainable and diversified livelihood options for the poor. 
• DAY-NRLM adopts a demand-driven approach, enabling the States to formulate their own State-specific poverty reduction action plans.
• The Mission seeks to achieve its objective by investing in four core components.
• social mobilization, promotion, and strengthening of self-managed and financially sustainable community institutionsof the rural poor women;
• financial inclusion; 
• sustainable livelihoods;
• social inclusion, social development and access to entitlements through convergence

Q1: What are Self Help Groups (SHGs)?

Self-help groups are informal groups of people who come together to address their common problems. While self-help might imply a focus on the individual, one important characteristic of self-help groups is the idea of mutual support – people helping each other. Self-help groups can serve many different purposes depending on the situation and the need

Source: 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative: PM Modi holds key meet to review women welfare schemes