Tue, 11 Aug 2026 · LIVE
Updated Aug 11, 2026 · 12:55
North East News Updated Aug 11, 2026

Assam's 39 Lakh Women Entrepreneurs to Drive State's Economic Growth: CM Sarma

Assam government is intensifying efforts to empower its 39 lakh women entrepreneurs through the Assam Rural platform, aiming to turn their ideas into sustainable and profitable businesses. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the initiative's focus on helping women achieve financial independence and move beyond traditional livelihoods. The 'Lakhpati Didi' vision seeks to transform women from beneficiaries into active entrepreneurs, boosting rural economies and household incomes. Officials believe strengthening women-led enterprises will create employment and enhance women's participation in local economic decision-making.

Assam's 39 lakh women entrepreneurs being empowered to turn ideas into profitable businesses: CM Sarma

Guwahati, Aug 11

Assam government is stepping up efforts to strengthen women-led entrepreneurship in the state, with the government focusing on empowering its nearly 39 lakh-strong community of women entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into sustainable and profitable businesses, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.

According to CM Sarma, the initiative, being pursued through the Assam Rural platform, seeks to provide women with greater opportunities to develop their entrepreneurial potential and become financially independent.

The government has highlighted the role of women, particularly those associated with rural and community-based economic activities, in driving grassroots development and strengthening household incomes.

Under the broader vision of creating a strong network of "Lakhpati Didis", women entrepreneurs are being encouraged to move beyond traditional livelihood activities and develop enterprises with the potential to generate sustainable profits.

The focus is on helping women convert their ideas into viable businesses, while creating opportunities for income generation and economic participation at the grassroots level.

The initiative also aims to build confidence among women entrepreneurs by encouraging them to identify business opportunities, develop their products and services and expand their economic activities.

With a large network of women involved in self-help groups and rural livelihood initiatives, Assam has been placing increasing emphasis on women-led enterprises as an important component of its rural development strategy.

The government has described the 39 lakh women entrepreneurs as a "strong force" capable of contributing significantly to the state's economic growth if provided with the right support and opportunities.

The "Lakhpati Didi" vision seeks to ensure that women are not merely beneficiaries of development programmes but emerge as active participants and entrepreneurs capable of building profitable enterprises.

Officials stated that strengthening women-led businesses can have a wider impact on rural communities by creating employment, improving family incomes and encouraging greater participation of women in local economic decision-making.

The Assam government's latest push is therefore aimed at combining women's entrepreneurial ideas with institutional support to create sustainable livelihoods and expand the state's rural economy. The initiative comes amid the state's continued focus on increasing women's economic empowerment and creating a stronger ecosystem for grassroots entrepreneurship.

— IANS

Reader Comments

Ananya R

Finally, someone is taking women-led businesses seriously! The Lakhpati Didi concept is brilliant. But I hope the government provides proper training and marketing support too, not just loans. Women in rural areas need help with digital skills and supply chain to make their businesses sustainable. 💪

Rajesh Q

Good to see Assam government focusing on women empowerment. My mother runs a small food processing unit in Nagaon and this kind of initiative would have helped her years ago. Better late than never. Hope they implement it properly on the ground.

Sneha F

As a teacher in a rural school in Assam, I see firsthand how women in our community have amazing ideas but lack the confidence to start businesses. This initiative could really transform lives. But we need more awareness at the grassroots level - many women don't even know about these schemes! 🏘️

Nikhil C

Respect to CM Sarma for this vision. But I'd like to see more concrete data - how many women have actually been supported so far? How many have become lakhpatis? We need measurable outcomes, not just announcements. Still, it's a step in the right direction.

Meera T

It's heartening to see women's economic empowerment being prioritized. In my village, women run self-help groups that produce traditional Assamese products like gamosa and pitha. With proper support, they can definitely scale up. This is how we build a stronger Assam! 🎉

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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