- Women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are a vital force in building Viksit Bharat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- The scheme supports rural women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) to start income-generating activities in agriculture, animal husbandry, trade, manufacturing, and services
- It was launched in 2023 with the aim to support 3 crore women across India by 2027
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, AUG 7
Gujarat has recorded over 5.96 lakh women earning more than ₹1 lakh annually under the Union government’s Lakhpati Didi scheme. Launched in 2023, the initiative aims to support three crore women across the country by 2027.
In Gujarat, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, consistent efforts have been made to ensure that women receive the full benefit of this initiative.
The State government has set a target of enabling 10 lakh women to achieve this income level through self-employment and enterprise.
The scheme supports rural women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) to start income-generating activities in agriculture, animal husbandry, trade, manufacturing, and services. It provides skill training, financial assistance, marketing support, and access to government welfare schemes. Income is calculated by including earnings from farm and non-farm work, wage employment, employed family members, and commissions or honorariums.
Over 10 lakh potential Lakhpati Didis identified across Gujarat
As of July 2025, 10.74 lakh women in Gujarat have been identified by trained Community Resource Persons (CRPs) as having the potential to become Lakhpati Didis, officials said on Thursday.
“To support this, the Ministry of Rural Development has created a Digital Aajeevika Register, which records each woman’s livelihood activity, assets, expenditure, and income. Based on this information, women are being provided with resources tailored to their needs.”
124 Master Trainers train over 10,000 community resource persons
To strengthen implementation, according to officials, the Gujarat government has deployed 124 Master Trainers at the taluka level. These trainers have trained over 10,000 CRPs who work directly with women in SHGs. The CRPs offer guidance on business development, linkages to schemes, and monitoring progress through the Digital Aajeevika Register.
Surat’s Ankitaben earns ₹2 lakh in just one year
The initiative has led to changes in income levels in several districts, they said, stating that in Mahuva taluka of Surat, Ankitaben Pinalbhai Patel from Shekhpur village began working as a drone pilot in 2024, spraying crop protection products. Within a year, she earned ₹2 lakh. Earlier, her household income depended on farming. She now receives regular orders and manages the work with support from her family, they said.
Reflecting on her journey, Ankitaben shares, “Now I don’t have to depend on anyone. We receive regular orders, and the income is steady. My husband supports me. This work has made a big difference to our family’s financial situation.”
The Gujarat government is continuing its work with SHGs and CRPs to meet the 10 lakh target, they said, and added that “all support services under the scheme are being tracked and delivered using digital tools developed by the Ministry of Rural Development.”
How does Lakhpati Didi Yojana work?
Lakhpati Didi Yojana helps rural women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) start small businesses and earn an annual income of over ₹1 lakh. Women can start businesses in agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts and other local trades. To support them, various government schemes provide: Skill training, Financial assistance and Marketing support. As per Central Government guidelines, a woman’s income under Lakhpati Didi Yojana is calculated based on the following:
* Total income from agriculture and allied activities
* Income from non-farm activities such as manufacturing, trade, or services
* Income from any employed family member
* Earnings from wage work in both the farm and non-farm sectors
* Assistance received through government welfare schemes
* Income earned through commission or honorarium
