Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, June 25, 2026, highlighted the progress of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, stating that more than 26 lakh rural women in the state have successfully achieved financial self-reliance through the scheme, and announced efforts to expand its reach by identifying new beneficiaries and training thousands of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) in skill development.

Context

Posting in Odia on X (formerly Twitter), CM Majhi wrote that the Lakhpati Didi scheme has given the economic development of Odisha's rural women 'a new direction' — 'ଏକ ନୂଆ ଦିଗ' [a new direction] — with over 26 lakh women having become self-reliant. He added that thousands of CRP women are being provided skill development training across various sectors to widen the campaign further. The post concluded with the resolve: 'Self-reliant women, prosperous families, and a developed Odisha — our women power leads this great mission.'

The announcement underscores the BJP-led Odisha government's continued push on women's economic empowerment since CM Majhi assumed office in June 2024 following the party's victory in the state assembly elections.

Policy Backdrop

The Lakhpati Didi component was introduced nationally under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in 2023, with a target of making two crore Self-Help Group (SHG) women financially self-reliant by ensuring a minimum annual household income of Rs 1 lakh. Odisha's own version of this scheme builds on the state's long-standing Mission Shakti programme, which was launched in 2001 and has since federated over 70 lakh women into SHGs across the state.

After the 2011 merger of Mission Shakti with the NRLM framework, Odisha expanded its SHG ecosystem significantly, linking women's groups to credit, enterprise promotion, and livelihood training. The current emphasis on CRP capacity-building reflects a deeper layer of that architecture — training community-level facilitators who in turn support SHG members in accessing markets, skills, and financial services.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are rural women enrolled in Self-Help Groups across Odisha's districts, particularly in economically lagging regions where female workforce participation has historically been low. CRPs — themselves drawn from within SHG federations — serve as a critical link between the government's programme machinery and grassroots beneficiaries.

Broader stakeholders include state rural development departments, the Odisha Livelihood Mission, and central ministries channelling NRLM funds. For rural households, a member crossing the Rs 1 lakh annual income threshold can meaningfully reduce dependence on informal credit and improve nutrition, education, and savings outcomes. Eastern India, including Odisha, has been identified as a high-priority geography under national livelihoods policy given its large rural female workforce potential.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the scale and pace of CRP skill-training rollouts across Odisha's districts, and whether the state sets fresh numerical targets for new beneficiary identification in upcoming budget or review cycles. The government's ability to sustain momentum beyond initial enrolment — through market linkages, enterprise support, and credit access — will determine whether the 26 lakh figure translates into durable income gains. Observers will also watch for any convergence announcements between Lakhpati Didi and other central or state schemes targeting women in agriculture, handicrafts, and micro-enterprise sectors.