Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : To bring women into the higher economic order, Union Rural Development Ministry has launched an initiative on creating Lakhpati rural SHG women to enable them to earn at least Rs 1 lakh per annum. For the realisation of this ambitious goal, the Ministry has envisioned livelihood support to 25 million rural SHG women in the next 2 years.
Based on various models existing across the country, a detailed advisory has been issued to the State Governments. A stakeholders consultation workshop was held with the States, BMGF (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and TRIF (Tranfomation Rural India Foundation), for further discussion on this subject on October 28, 2021.
During the consultation on October 28, 2021, the importance of well-planned interventions to diversify livelihood activities at the household level ranging from Agriculture and allied, Livestock, NTFP (Non-timber Forest Products) and other interventions through convergence were emphasised to realise an annual income of Rs 1 lakh on a sustained basis.
The importance of strengthening SHG, VO (Village Organization) and CLFs (Cluster Level Federations) to anchor such interventions was also highlighted and stressed. The dedicated Community Cadres of SHG members trained in different fields would be instrumental in realising their goal. The role of Civil Society Organizations, KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras), and private market players is critical in this intervention. States were advised to encourage and forge these partnerships as well. National Rural Livelihood Mission works on a saturation approach.As of date, 6,768 blocks have been covered under the programme bringing 7.7 crore women into 70 lakh SHGs.
Over the years, this money borrowed by SHGs through bank capitalisation support is now being used for creating diversified livelihood opportunities. While all these efforts are yielding positive transformation, it has been realised that for ensuring sustainable livelihoods and dignified life of women SHG members, there is a need to make concerted effort for ensuring at least Rs 1,00,000 income per annum for the household i.e. enabling them to become a Lakhpati. The figure of Rs 1 lakh is both aspirational and inspirational for rural SHG women, according to a PIB release.
Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development organising the rural poor into self-governed institutions with focus on building capacity and creating diversified livelihood opportunities for Rural Poor Women. The mission has made successful strides through the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana bringing focus on the role of women as farmers. Moving from the phase of community mobilisation and building institutions of women, now the focus is on envisaging SHG women in higher-order economic activities through producer groups, FPOs, and producer companies.