LAKHPATI DIDI

WHY DID THE GOVERNMENT LAUNCH THIS SCHEME: –

The Government observed that when women earn, children get better education, the whole family gets benefits, and the family becomes healthier. It is also observed that women in villages are very hardworking and have the potential to perform better and help to grow the economy.

KEY OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME:

The following are the major objectives of the Lakhpati Didi Scheme:-

1. To promote entrepreneurship

2. To make women financially independent

3. To equip the women with modern skills like LED bulb making, drone operation and Digital banking, etc.

4. To improve the rural economy.

5. To improve the lifestyle of families living in villages.

Major Benefits of the scheme: 

The Lakhpati Didi Scheme is a bundle of opportunities for women in India. The following are the benefits a woman gets under this scheme:

1. Financial aid:

Money is a big challenge for any business to grow. Under this scheme

• Revolving funds are allotted to SHGs to start small activities.
• Women get access to interest-free or low-interest loans
• Financial support to purchase equipment and machinery

Market Linkage (Product selling):

Manufacturing a product is easy, but selling it is difficult. The Government helps Lakhpati Didis to sell their product on:

• She-Marts: New community retail stores specifically for SHG products.
• e-Commerce sites: Like Amazon, Flipkart, and GeM Portal.
• Saras Melas: Special exhibitions held across India.

3. Skill Development Training:

Based on an individual’s interest, correspondingly the Government provides free training in various fields based on individual interest:

• Technical: Plumbing, operating drones (drone didi), repairing LED bulbs.
• Crafts: Tailoring, making handicrafts and weaving.
• Agriculture: Organic manure making, Mushroom farming or poultry.
• Service: Running a beauty parlour or small grocery store.

4. Digital Literacy:

Women are trained to manage bank accounts through the Digital Aajeevika Register, use UPI (Google Pay, Phone Pay), and maintain digital registers, etc.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: –

The following are the criteria and respective details for eligibility:

1. A woman can only apply for this scheme.

2. Applicant must be a member of a self-help group (SHGs).

3. The age limit is between 18 and 60 years.

4. This scheme is primarily for rural women, though some states also include urban poor families.

5. The priority is given to low-income families.

HOW TO APPLY:-

Lakhpati didi is a community-based scheme, and hence the application process happens through a local group. Specifically, there is no direct “Apply” button available online for an individual.

Step –by-Step process is as follows:

1. Join an SHG: If you are not a member of a Self-help group, visit your Gram Panchayat or nearby Anganwadi Centre.
2. Talk to SHG Leader: Discuss with the SHG leader and furthermore show your interest in becoming Lakhpati Didi.
3. Business Plan: A “community resource Planner(CRP) will help you create your livelihood planning( Like poultry farm, tailoring shop, Crafting etc.)
4. Document submission: Give your Bank Passbook, Aadhar card, and Ration card to the SHG coordinator.
5. Training: The SHG coordinator will send the women for free training in the chosen area once the plan is approved.
6. Fund receipt: The loan amount will be consequently credited to the individual SHG or personal account to start business after successful completion of training.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENT REQUIRED:-

Before you apply for Lakhpati Didi Scheme, make sure to keep these documents handy:

1. Voter ID card/Residence Proof
2. Aadhar card(Lindked to individual mobile number)
3. Income certificate( In case it is required by your state)
4. Bank passbook of active bank account
5. Passport size photos.

CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD: –

The following are the challenges faced by the scheme:

1. Market competition: Products developed by women always face tough competition from big and low-cost factory-based brands. In big factories, products are produced in large lots, which are sold in the market at lower prices.

2. Digital literacy: Many women don’t know how to operate smartphones or banking apps for digital payments.

3. Delays in getting a loan: Very often, the paperwork at the bank level takes too long, and eventually delays the start of business.

4. Social hurdles: Because of social constraints, many families in villages hesitate to allow women to travel for training or expand their business.

THE WAY FORWARD

1. e-Commerce support: Connecting every SHGs to platforms like ONDC(Open Network for Digital Commerce) and Amazon to ensure they have the customer nationwide.

2. Branding and marketing: Imparting training to women on how to pack their product attractively to get higher prices.

3. Better training: Giving hands-on technical training on technical skills like drone repairs or solar panel maintenance, rather than just theoretical class training.

4. Experienced mentors: Appoint “Master Didi” in every village to help new members grow their business and guide them through new processes.

CONCLUSION:

The Lakhpati Didi scheme is more than just a government program. It is a movement to uplift the lifestyle of rural women and thereby turn them into successful entrepreneurs.

This scheme provides the right mix of loans, market access and skills and correspondingly bridge the gap between poverty and prosperity.Though there are challenges as mentioned above, the way forwards through modern technical trainings and SHE-marts is making  the dream of earning ₹1 Lakh per year has become a reality for many ladies.

This scheme also provides a respectful position in society and also ensures a better future for their children.If a lady is a member of self help group(SHGs) , it is a perfect time to come forward and learn new skill and start your own business.

To read more Government schemes, kindly visit:

www.blessedimran.com