CM Dhami: Over 3 Lakh Women Turn Lakhpati in Uttarakhand
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami announced on Independence Day that over three lakh women in the state have become 'Lakhpati Didis' under the DAY-NRLM-linked scheme, marking a stated milestone in rural women's economic empowerment.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the milestone on Independence Day, 15 August 2026 .
More than three lakh women in Uttarakhand have reportedly achieved 'Lakhpati Didi' status.
The Lakhpati Didi Yojana targets annual household income of at least Rs 1 lakh for women in self-help groups.
The scheme operates under the national DAY-NRLM framework, launched in 2011 .
Uttarakhand's mountainous geography makes SHG-based outreach particularly challenging compared to plains states.
On Independence Day, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared that the state has crossed a landmark in women's economic empowerment — with more than three lakh women achieving 'Lakhpati Didi' status through a flagship rural livelihoods scheme.
Speaking through the Chief Minister's Office, Dhami stated: 'Uttarakhand has established a new dimension in the field of women's empowerment. Through the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, more than three lakh women in the state have become Lakhpati Didis. Through various schemes, continuous work is being done to make matrashakti [the power of women] economically empowered and self-reliant.'
What the Lakhpati Didi Yojana actually does
The Lakhpati Didi Yojana is a central initiative operating under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), launched nationally in 2011. Its core promise is straightforward: help women organised in self-help groups (SHGs) reach an annual household income of at least Rs 1 lakh through micro-enterprises, skill training, and credit linkages. A woman who crosses that threshold earns the title 'Lakhpati Didi' — a marker of genuine financial independence, not a one-time transfer. Uttarakhand's claim of over three lakh beneficiaries positions the hill state as an active implementer of this national framework, channelling it through rural SHG networks spread across its terrain.Why the hill-state context sharpens the achievement
Uttarakhand's geography makes rural economic outreach genuinely difficult. Dispersed mountain villages, seasonal migration by working-age men, and limited formal employment options have historically left rural women economically marginalised. SHG-based livelihoods programmes — linking women to micro-credit and market access — are among the few policy levers that work at scale in such terrain. The state's reported progress under DAY-NRLM fits a broader national pattern where financial inclusion for women is being pursued through the SHG route, but the logistical challenge in Uttarakhand is measurably steeper than in plains states.Point of View
And Uttarakhand's claim of over three lakh beneficiaries is a bid to be counted among high-performers. What will matter next is whether independent audits or central government data corroborate the state's figures, since beneficiary counts under SHG programmes have historically varied between state-reported and verified numbers. The broader arc here is the BJP's sustained effort to make rural women's economic self-reliance a defining policy identity ahead of electoral cycles.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lakhpati Didi Yojana?
The Lakhpati Didi Yojana is a scheme under the central government's DAY-NRLM programme that helps women in self-help groups reach an annual household income of at least Rs 1 lakh through skill training, micro-enterprises, and credit linkages.
How many women have become Lakhpati Didi in Uttarakhand?
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that more than three lakh women in Uttarakhand have achieved Lakhpati Didi status, though this figure is as reported by the state government.
Who is Pushkar Singh Dhami?
Pushkar Singh Dhami is the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, serving since 2021, and has been a vocal proponent of central welfare schemes in the state.
What does 'Lakhpati Didi' mean?
'Lakhpati Didi' literally means a woman who earns at least one lakh rupees annually. The term is used under the scheme to recognise women in SHGs who have crossed that income threshold through entrepreneurship or skill-based work.
