New Delhi, Jan 14 (NationPress) The government announced on Wednesday that the primary aim of the ‘National Campaign on Entrepreneurship’ is to train and enhance the skills of 50,000 community resource persons (CRPs) focused on enterprise promotion while providing Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training to 50 lakh SHG members associated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

The DAY-NRLM initiative seeks to transform the income levels of rural women by fostering diverse and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The Ministry of Rural Development emphasizes the importance of promoting non-farm rural enterprises as a vital strategy for achieving this objective.

“Over the years, various non-farm livelihood schemes, such as the 'Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme', have showcased successful enterprise models backed by trained community leaders. These leaders serve as grassroots catalysts, offering enterprise identification, start-up assistance, mentoring, and continuous support,” it stated.

Additionally, the government has pledged to support at least 3 crore Lakhpati Didis — members of SHGs earning Rs 1 lakh or more annually.

To meet the ambitious Lakhpati Didi targets, a significant expansion of this workforce is essential.

The National Campaign on Entrepreneurship is viewed as a strategic opportunity to advance enterprise development throughout India's rural sectors, stimulate local economic growth, and tap into the entrepreneurial capabilities of SHG women.

“This focused initiative will not only generate thousands of community resource persons but also inspire millions of rural entrepreneurs, paving the way for a robust, inclusive, and self-sufficient non-farm rural economy, while creating pathways for connections with formal financial institutions for grassroots businesses and loans,” the statement added.

The Lakhpati Didi Scheme aims to empower rural women in India by assisting SHG members to achieve a minimum income of Rs 1 lakh annually in a sustainable manner.

This initiative supports women by promoting small enterprises, enhancing skills, providing financial literacy education, and facilitating easier access to loans, enabling them to gain financial independence and uplift their families’ living standards.

Initiated under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission, the scheme aims to ensure that SHG women earn Rs 1 lakh or more per year, translating to an average monthly income of approximately Rs 10,000, consistently over time.