New Delhi (India), February 1 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced in the interim Budget the expansion of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme for self-help group workers who earn a sustainable income of at least one lakh rupees per a year
The Finance Minister told Parliament in his budget speech that target for the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, which was initially set at 2 crore women, has been enhanced to 3 million women.
Empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, ease of living and dignity for them has gained momentum in the last 10 years, she stated.
She emphasized that 83 lakh Self Help Groups with nine crore women are transforming the rural socio-economic landscape through empowerment and self-reliance.
“Their success has helped almost one crore women to become Lakhpati Didis already. They are an inspiration to others. Their achievements will be recognized by honoring them. Buoyed by the success, it has been decided to enhance the target for Lakhpati Didi from 2 crores. to 3 crores,” said FM Sitharaman.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government was working with Women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) with the aim of creating two crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in villages.
The PM in his speech said, “Today 10 crore Rural Women are part of the Self Help Groups. When you go to a village, you will find ‘bank-wali didi’, ‘Anganwadi didi’ and ‘dawai-wali (medicine) . ) didi’ It is my dream to make two crore lakhpati didis in the villages”.
Prime Minister Modi also announced an initiative that aims to equip 15,000 Women’s Self Help Groups with the necessary training and resources to operate and repair drones. This initiative, aptly named ‘Drone ki Udaan’, will empower women to take to the skies, using drone technology to further improve agricultural practices and rural development, the Prime Minister said.
To give impetus to economic empowerment of women, the Lakhpati Didi initiative was initiated by the flagship Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, under the Ministry of Rural Development in which every SHG household is encouraged to take up multiple livelihood activities linked with value. chain interventions, resulting in a sustainable income of Rs one lakh or more per annum.
Meanwhile, other budget announcements in Finance Minister Sitharaman’s speech included extending health insurance cover under Ayushman Bharat scheme to all anganwadi and ASHA workers as well as encouraging vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for prevention of cervical cancer.
She said that various plans for maternal and child care will be brought under one comprehensive program for synergy in implementation. “Upgrading of anganwadi centers under
“Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 will be fast-tracked for improved nutrition, early childhood care and development,” Sitharaman said.
The Finance Minister highlighted that 30 crore Mudra Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs over the last 10 years.
“Female enrollment in higher education has increased by 28 percent in ten years. In STEM courses, girls and women make up 43 percent of enrollment — one of the highest in the world. All these measures are reflected in the increasing participation. of women in the workforce,” she said.
In her Budget speech, Sitharaman said that making “Triple Talaq” illegal and reservation of one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies and giving more than seventy percent houses under PM Awas Yojana in rural areas to women as sole . or co-owners enhanced their dignity.
The Finance Minister stated that the government of PM Narendra Modi will adopt economic policies that nurture and sustain growth, facilitate inclusive and sustainable development, improve productivity, create opportunities for all, help them improve their skills and contribute to generating resources to drive investments and fulfill . aspirations
She said the newly designed U-WIN platform to manage immunization and intensified efforts of Mission Indradhanush will be rapidly rolled out across the country (ANI)