Centre Targets 6 Crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029–30, Says Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The Union Ministry of Rural Development has announced an ambitious plan to create six crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029–30 , strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting women-led economic growth. The announcement was made by Union Rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a national conference on financial literacy and resilience and the Central Level Coordination Committee meeting held in Hyderabad. Minister of State Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar , Telangana minister Seethakka , senior officials from NABARD , RBI , banks, and representatives of Self-Help Groups attended the event, highlighting the importance of institutional coordination in expanding financial inclusion.

Chouhan emphasized that lending to women’s self-help groups is among the safest investments, noting that empowering rural women is essential for inclusive growth and social transformation. He said women’s leadership can drive sustainable village development and is crucial to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat . To strengthen financial independence, the government launched initiatives including an enterprise loan system , UPI-based credit , and digital financial literacy modules aimed at improving credit access, promoting digital transactions, and enhancing financial awareness among SHG members.

A Lakhpati Didi is defined as a rural woman earning at least ₹1 lakh annually through sustainable livelihoods. The minister stated that 3.01 crore women have already achieved this milestone, and the earlier target of three crore by 2027 was reached ahead of schedule in 2025 through coordinated efforts by governments and financial institutions. With nearly 10 crore women linked to SHGs nationwide, the Centre has now doubled the goal and prepared a roadmap to help more women increase incomes through diversified livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and better market access.

Highlighting their financial discipline, Chouhan noted that SHG women maintain an NPA rate of just 1.7% , far lower than many other borrower segments. Over the past 12 years, SHG members have received about ₹12 lakh crore in loans, and the government aims to extend an additional ₹10 lakh crore over the next five years while promoting entrepreneurship through targeted enterprise financing. The government also plans to bring most SHG members under insurance and social security schemes to strengthen financial security and resilience.

The minister also criticized the previous Telangana government for returning funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana , saying it deprived rural poor families of housing benefits, while welcoming the current administration’s move to rejoin the scheme. Operating under the DAY-NRLM , the Lakhpati Didi initiative promotes financial inclusion, skill development, and women-led enterprises across sectors such as agriculture, dairy, handicrafts, and rural services. By expanding credit access, digital tools, and social protection, the Centre aims to transform rural women into self-reliant earners and community leaders, reaffirming its commitment to achieving six crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029–30.