The 2026 Union Budget focuses on promoting women’s entrepreneurial ambitions. In light of this, the Indian government’s Lakhpati Didi Yojana got major upgrades this year.
The
2026 Union Budget focuses on promoting women’s entrepreneurial ambitions. In light of this, the Indian government’s Lakhpati Didi Yojana got major upgrades this year. On Sunday, Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget, with a proposal to expand community-owned She-Marts to support women entrepreneurs.
In her address to the parliament, the finance minister emphasised that the upgraded scheme will expand economic opportunities for rural women and strengthen self-help groups (SHGs) that are central to the mission.
“Building on the success of the Lakhpati Didi programme, I propose to help women take the next step from credit-linked livelihoods to being owners of enterprises. Self-help entrepreneur (SHE) marts will be set up as community-owned retail outlets within the cluster-level federations through enhanced and innovative financing instruments,” she said on Sunday.
About Lakhpati Didi Yojana
The initiative was implemented by the Ministry of
Rural Development and aims to empower rural women by helping members of self-help groups launch micro-enterprises and earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per year, effectively making them economically independent.
The programme entails several intiative that train women in diverse skills, from tailoring and plumbing to LED bulb making and even drone operation, and encourages multiple livelihood activities that can elevate household incomes.
While addressing the nation from the Red Fort in 2023, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said it was his “dream to make 2 crore Lakhpati Didis” by leveraging the strength of 10 crore women associated with SHGs across the country.
Schemes for women have become important over the years due to a robust voter base. Women had powered the NDA to a stunning victory in Bihar on the back of women-centric welfare programmes. Women voter place also played a crucial role in keeping their grip on states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh_._
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