Gujarat identifies 5.96 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ under rural livelihood mission
Gujarat has identified more than 5.96 lakh women as “Lakhpati Didis” under the Centre’s rural livelihood programme aimed at helping members of self-help groups (SHGs)
Gujarat has identified more than 5.96 lakh women as “Lakhpati Didis” under the Centre’s rural livelihood programme aimed at helping members of self-help groups (SHGs) achieve annual household incomes of over ₹1 lakh, according to State government data released on Monday (June 8, 2026). According to the Gujarat government, the State has identified nearly 10 lakh potential beneficiaries under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, a programme aimed at helping women associated with SHGs achieve annual household incomes exceeding ₹1 lakh through entrepreneurship and livelihood activities. Women-led development Officials said the programme is part of a broader push towards women-led development and financial empowerment through entrepreneurship, skill development, access to credit and market linkages. According to officials, Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company has appointed 124 master trainers at district and taluka levels who, in turn, have trained more than 10,000 community resource persons, including Krishi Sakhis, Pashu Sakhis and Bank Sakhis, to support implementation of the scheme.
The government highlighted several beneficiaries as examples of the programme’s impact. Bhavnaben Patel of Nogama village in Navsari district’s Chikhli taluka is one such beneficiary who has reported annual earnings of ₹10.16 lakh through a combination of canteen operations, catering services, agriculture and other activities. Associated with the Gayatri Sakhi Mandal since 2014, Ms. Patel currently runs a canteen at Navsari Collectorate and also provides catering services along with other members of her self-help group. According to official figures, her annual income comprises ₹2 lakh from the canteen business, ₹5 lakh from catering services, ₹1 lakh from agriculture and ₹2.16 lakh from other sources. “Joining Sakhi Mandal has brought financial stability, improved my standard of living and increased my self-confidence,” Ms. Patel said in a statement released by the government.
Another beneficiary, Shilpaben Pandya from Nenpur village in Kheda district, has built a food processing enterprise manufacturing natural sharbats after receiving support through her SHG and training from Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (R-SETI). Pandya, who has been associated with the Shilpa Sakhi Mandal since 2010 and currently serves as its president, now earns around ₹10 lakh annually, according to government figures. Her business produces natural sharbats in flavours such as lemon, guava, strawberry and panchamrut without artificial colours. The State government said the enterprise has not only improved her family’s financial condition but has also generated livelihood opportunities for other women in the village. The Lakhpati Didi initiative identifies women associated with self-help groups whose families have achieved annual incomes exceeding ₹1 lakh through sustainable livelihood activities.
The programme provides training, financial assistance, credit support and market access to rural women entrepreneurs. Officials said thousands of women across Gujarat have diversified into sectors such as food processing, catering services, agriculture, animal husbandry and other micro-enterprises under the programme. The figures were released as the Centre marked 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, with the government highlighting women-centric schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, PM Mudra Yojana and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao as part of its broader women empowerment agenda.
The BriefWire