Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday set a new target of making six crore women ‘Lakhpati Didis’, saying the move would bring significant transformation to the rural economy by harnessing women’s strength.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, Modi said the government has already exceeded its target of making three crore women ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
The Lakhpati Didi initiative is a flagship government programme under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
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The initiative seeks to empower women in Self-Help Groups to achieve a sustainable annual household income of ₹1 lakh or more.
"We have surpassed the target we had set of making three crore sisters 'Lakhpati Didis'. Now, we are moving forward with the target of creating six crore Lakhpati Didis," PM said.
Modi said the addition of three crore new 'Lakhpati Didis' would bring about a major transformation in the rural economy by empowering women.
He also underscored the increasing role of women in nation-building, noting their leadership across sectors including fighter jets, civil aviation, sports and STEM education.
"Whether it is fighter jets or civil aviation, our daughters are seen at the forefront," Modi said, adding that women are also making their presence felt in sports and STEM education.
He said women inducted into the armed forces through the National Defence Academy (NDA) are proving their capabilities to lead the country's armed forces.
Recalling his visit to a semiconductor plant in Sanand, Gujarat, Modi said he was impressed by the confidence of tribal women employed there.
He said some of the women came from villages where they were not even familiar with what a passport was, but later travelled abroad for training before returning to work in chip manufacturing.
"I was truly very impressed when I saw their confidence," Modi said.
