Uttarakhand News: Over 1.6 Lakh Women Become Lakhpati Didis; 1.2 Lakh More Targeted This Year

At a state-level evaluation committee meeting of the Lakhpati Didi programme on Saturday, Uttarakhand Rural Development Secretary Dheeraj Garbyal announced that 1,63,000 women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) have so far become Lakhpati Didis, earning over Rs 1 lakh annually. The meeting was held at the Livelihood Mission auditorium, where officials also set a target to add another 1,20,000 Lakhpati Didis in the current financial year.

Secretary Garbyal directed that the Tourism Department be included in the evaluation committee to strengthen the programme. He was informed that the state has formed 68,497 SHGs, 7,768 village organisations, and 586 cluster organisations, connecting more than five lakh women through various livelihood initiatives.

ALSO READ: Panic On Shridham Express After Bomb Alert; RPF, GRP Check Train At Mathura Station

Under the Deendayal Antyodaya-National Rural Livelihood Mission, efforts are underway to help SHG women achieve Lakhpati Didi status through institutional development, capacity building, financial inclusion, departmental convergence, livelihood diversification, and product marketing. 

Garbyal instructed officials to link SHG members with the Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana and PMEGP, provide technical and skill training under the Mukhyamantri Udyamshala Yojana, and promote high-quality SHG products through the House of Himalayas. He also stressed boosting rural enterprises under the Gramotthan scheme and preparing district-wise action plans through inter-departmental coordination.

During the meeting, the Rural Development Secretary reviewed the progress of various schemes, including the State Rural Livelihood Mission, Gramotthan, Mukhyamantri Udyamshala Yojana, and House of Himalayas, with CDOs from all districts. Districts showing unsatisfactory progress were asked to make immediate improvements.

ALSO READ: Jaishankar Speaks To Bahrain FM, Focuses On CEPA Deal, Defence And Anti-Terror Cooperation

Additional Secretary Jharna Kamthan, Additional Commissioner AK Rajput, Deputy Commissioner Naresh Kumar, ACEO Pradeep Kumar Pandey, Chief Implementation Officer Prabhakar Bewni, Additional Project Director Mahendra Singh, and senior officials from the agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, cooperatives, fisheries, and industry departments were present at the meeting.