Guwahati, January 13 (NationPress) Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced on Tuesday that over 8 lakh women in the state, affiliated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), have achieved the status of “Lakhpati Baideus”.

The Lakhpati Baideo Scheme is a premier initiative by the Assam government, designed to economically empower women, especially those linked with self-help groups.

This scheme aims to help women secure an annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh through sustainable livelihood opportunities. It focuses on enhancing rural entrepreneurship by providing financial support, skill development, market access, and continuous assistance in sectors like agriculture, livestock, weaving, food processing, and small-scale enterprises.

During a government event held in the Cachar district, Sarma stated, “Among the 40 lakh women involved in Self-Help Groups in Assam, 8 lakh have successfully become Lakhpati Baideus, while our mission is to convert the remaining 32 lakh women into self-sufficient entrepreneurs.”

Today, the Chief Minister initiated the distribution of checks under the Chief Minister’s Women Entrepreneurship Mission in the Karimganj North Legislative Assembly Constituency of Sribhumi district, along with the Katigorah and Barkhola Legislative Assembly Constituencies of Cachar district.

A total of 14,135 women beneficiaries from Karimganj North, 18,578 from Katigorah, and 19,756 from Barkhola received entrepreneurship seed capital of Rs. 10,000 each. Consequently, 19,40,715 women across 80 Legislative Assembly Constituencies of the state have been integrated into the program thus far.

Addressing a large public gathering at the DSA Playground in Sribhumi district, the Chief Minister disclosed that the State Government has earmarked Rs 10,000 as seed capital for each of 32 lakh women under the mission, amounting to an expenditure of Rs 3,200 crore.

Sarma mentioned that Karimganj North has 2,039 “Lakhpati Baideus” and highlighted the top 20 highest-earning women entrepreneurs from the region.

Regarding the utilization of the seed capital, Sarma explained that if women deposit the initial installment in their Self-Help Groups, a collective fund of Rs 1 lakh can be created. This fund can then be used to initiate collective businesses, invest in personal ventures, or expand existing family enterprises.

He added that the government will evaluate fund utilization after six months. Women who effectively use the initial assistance will qualify for further support of Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 in later phases.

The Chief Minister also announced that an additional 2,000 beneficiaries in the constituency would be included under the Orunodoi scheme and stated that Orunodoi recipients would receive Rs. 8,000 each on February 20. Additionally, he allocated Rs. 10 crore for improvements to the DSA Playground.

Sarma emphasized that the government has ensured the availability of nearly all essential goods for the population and noted that Assam is making significant strides toward becoming a developed state.