Odisha secures top position under Centre's Lakhpati Didi scheme

IANS April 17, 2025 332 views

Odisha has emerged as a national leader in women's economic empowerment through the Lakhpati Didi scheme. The state has created over 14 lakh Lakhpati Didis, achieving 82% of its targeted goal through innovative community-driven strategies. By providing customized training, increased funding, and zero-interest loans, the state has transformed rural women's economic potential. This comprehensive approach demonstrates a powerful model of grassroots development and women's entrepreneurship.

"The transformation began at the grassroots, with a door-to-door identification campaign" - Odisha Government
Odisha secures top position under Centre's Lakhpati Didi scheme
Bhubaneswar, April 16: Odisha has secured the top position in India under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, the flagship programme of the Central government that empowers rural women to earn Rs 1 lakh or more annually through sustainable livelihoods, informed the state government in a press note on Wednesday.

Key Points

1

Odisha implements mission-mode approach for women's economic empowerment

2

Customized training in entrepreneurial skills transforms rural livelihoods

3

State surpasses national targets under Lakhpati Didi initiative

The state government claimed that as of April 13, 2025, Odisha has created 14,41,074 Lakhpati Didis, completing 82 per cent of its 17.59 lakh potential Lakhpati Didis identified and surpassing all other states.

As per the press statement, the mission has been implemented in Odisha by the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), under the Department of Mission Shakti, and aligned with the objectives of the centrally sponsored National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).

Through a mission-mode approach, the state has forged a powerful model of decentralised planning, local leadership, and structured livelihood support.

"The transformation began at the grassroots, with a door-to-door identification campaign to find Potential Lakhpati Didis (PLDs). Community Support Staff (CSS), SHG leaders, and OLM officials carried out household-level surveys, mapping income levels, skills, and aspirations. These women weren't just identified, they were trained, encouraged, and mentored," noted the state government.

It further noted that Individual Business Development Plans (BDPs) were created for each Potential Lakhpati Didi, offering them pathways to expand or diversify their existing economic activities based on their environment and capacity. The state government also launched onsite training sessions in every corner of rural Odisha.

Master trainers supported women in acquiring technical and entrepreneurial skills including tailoring, mushroom cultivation, livestock farming, or food processing. The training was customized, practical, and empowering, turning traditional knowledge into business strategy.

The state government also increased the Revolving Fund (RF) from Rs15,000 to Rs 30,000, while the Community Investment Fund (CIF) was substantially enhanced from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 60 lakh.

This apart, many eligible beneficiaries benefited significantly through the Subhadra scheme, the flagship programme launched by the new BJP government. The government has offered zero-interest loans up to Rs 10 lakh for prompt repayment, easing the burden of credit for rural entrepreneurs which enabled the Women SHGs to start or expand their small enterprise.

Reader Comments

P
Priya M.
This is amazing news! My aunt in Puri became a Lakhpati Didi through mushroom cultivation training. She's now supporting her daughter's engineering education. More power to these women! 👏
R
Rahul K.
While the numbers look impressive, I wonder about the sustainability. How many of these women will maintain this income level after 3-5 years? The program needs long-term tracking.
A
Anjali P.
As someone who works with SHGs in Koraput, I've seen firsthand how transformative this program has been. The revolving fund increase made a huge difference for small businesses.
S
Sanjay T.
Great achievement! But why isn't there more coverage of individual success stories? Would love to hear more about these women's journeys from the ground level.
M
Meena R.
The tailoring training changed my life! From earning ₹3000/month to now ₹15,000. Never thought I'd be called a Lakhpati Didi 😊 The onsite training was so convenient with small kids at home.
D
Deepak N.
The combination of government schemes (Mission Shakti + Subhadra) seems to be working well. Hope other states can learn from Odisha's decentralized approach to women's empowerment.

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Tags:
Odisha Lakhpati Didi Rural Women Empowerment Mission Shakti NRLM Women Entrepreneurship