NewKerala.com

Nari Shakti Key to Viksit Bharat, Says Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis stated that women's active participation is fundamental to the 'Viksit Bharat' vision. He set an ambitious target for the state to create one crore 'Lakhpati Didis'. Fadnavis called upon women's Self-Help Groups to lead a 300-crore tree plantation campaign. The government also plans to expand Umed Malls to the tehsil level for permanent market access.

Key Points: Nari Shakti Key to Viksit Bharat: CM Fadnavis

  • CM Fadnavis says Nari Shakti key to Viksit Bharat
  • Targets 1 crore Lakhpati Didis for Maharashtra
  • SHGs to lead 300-crore tree plantation campaign
  • Umed Malls under construction in 20 districts
3 min read

'Nari Shakti' key to Viksit Bharat vision, says Maha CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis says 'Nari Shakti' is key to Viksit Bharat, targets 1 crore 'Lakhpati Didis', and launches tree plantation drive with SHGs.

"Maharashtra must lead the nation by creating the first one crore 'Lakhpati Didis'. - CM Devendra Fadnavis"

Mumbai, May 2

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the active participation of women, or 'Nari Shakti', is fundamental to realising the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Mahalaxmi Saras Exhibition, he said the country would reach its full economic potential only when women emerge as key contributors to the national economy.

Honouring the contributions of women, the Chief Minister set an ambitious target for the state, saying, "Maharashtra must lead the nation by creating the first one crore (10 million) 'Lakhpati Didis'."

During the event, CM Fadnavis said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched numerous schemes aimed at women's empowerment, which are now showing significant results on the ground. He said Maharashtra is currently on track to create 50 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis' (women with an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more).

He called upon women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to lead the government's 300-crore tree plantation campaign. Under the 'Umed' Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission, a special scheme will be drafted to provide funds for SHGs to set up nurseries. The government will cover expenses for sapling preparation, plantation and maintenance, providing a sustainable commercial income for these groups, he added.

CM Fadnavis lauded the Mahalaxmi Saras Exhibition, noting that its organisation and quality now rival international trade fairs. The Chief Minister urged citizens to support local entrepreneurs by shopping through Umed Mart, a digital platform that now features over 1,000 new products from women's SHGs.

"To ensure permanent market access, Umed Malls are currently under construction in 20 districts. Work is set to begin in the remaining 16 districts soon. The government plans to expand this mall network down to the tehsil (taluka) level in the coming years," he said.

Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore said the exhibition is the largest of its kind in India. He shared key figures related to the 'Umed' mission.

"The initiative has reached 39,558 villages across Maharashtra. It has benefited over 64 lakh families through 6.68 lakh SHGs. There are currently 331 women Farmer Producer Companies operating in the state," he added.

Minister Gore highlighted the financial discipline of women entrepreneurs, noting that the non-performing assets (NPA) for loans extended to these SHGs is less than 1 per cent, underscoring their strong repayment record.

The ceremony began with the official ribbon-cutting by CM Fadnavis, followed by a tour of the stalls where he interacted with artisans. A book featuring 68 success stories of women under the 'Umed' mission was also released.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

V
Vikram M
The concept of 'Nari Shakti' is great, but I wish these schemes reached the grassroots faster. My village in Marathwada still has no Umed Mall, and women have to travel 50 km to sell their goods. The vision is there, but implementation on the ground needs speed and transparency. Still, it's a good step forward - let's hope the tehsil-level malls come soon.
K
Kavya N
Now THIS is how you empower women - not just slogans, but tree plantation contracts, digital platforms, and real income targets! 🌳 The Umed Mart idea is brilliant, connecting rural artisans directly to urban buyers. And those 68 success stories in that book - I bet each one is an inspiration for a whole village. Jai Maharashtra!
J
James A
Interesting to see the 'Lakhpati Didi' concept from a global perspective. In the West, microfinance for women in India is often studied as a case study in development economics. The 1% NPA rate is remarkable - it's lower than most corporate loan portfolios. Shows that empowering women is not just morally right, but economically smart. India's SHG model is genuinely world-class.
R
Rahul R
Good initiative, but we need to think bigger, yaar. ₹1 lakh per year is only about ₹8,000 per month - that's still below a living wage in Mumbai. The target should be 'Lakhpati Per Month Didis', not just per year! Also, what about urban women? Most SHG schemes focus only on rural areas. Let's include the slum-dwelling didis in cities too. Baby steps, but we need running steps.

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

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50