Rural women beneficiaries of the Lakhpati Didi scheme under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) have credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government initiatives with transforming their financial lives, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' on 17 September 2026 to mark the Prime Minister's birthday and his 25 years in public service. Women from Uttar Pradesh and Odisha shared accounts of how access to loans, self-help groups, and skill-based programmes had helped them move from financial dependence to independent livelihoods.

Chandauli's Self-Help Groups Lead the Way

In Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh, women connected to self-help groups under the NRLM have built small enterprises and are now generating employment for other women in their communities. The Zari-Zardosi embroidery craft, promoted under the 'One District, One Product' (ODOP) scheme, has become an economic anchor for around 11 Muslim families in the area.

Rekha Kumari, a beneficiary associated with the group, said her life had undergone a major transformation after joining the NRLM. The group's president, Afshana, along with members Ashiya and Parveen, said they are now earning incomes and contributing financially to their families — adding that the self-help group experience had also strengthened their confidence and self-reliance.

Odisha Beneficiary Buys Sewing Machine, Earns Independent Income

Jyotsna Rani Mahanta from Govindpur village in Keonjhar district, Odisha, described how a ₹1 lakh loan under the scheme changed her circumstances. 'I received a loan of ₹1 lakh under the Lakhpati Didi scheme. Earlier, I found it very difficult to run my household. But now, I have purchased a sewing machine; I work on it and earn a good income, which allows me to manage my household expenses,' she said.

Mahanta added that the opportunity had helped her overcome the financial difficulties she previously faced and had given her a means to earn independently. She extended birthday greetings to the Prime Minister and expressed hope that the government would continue supporting rural women.

Government's 3-Crore Target for Lakhpati Didis

According to beneficiaries, the government has set a target of making 3 crore women 'Lakhpati Didis' — those earning an annual income of at least ₹1 lakh — through the NRLM framework. This is being described by supporters of the scheme as one of the most significant women's empowerment drives in rural India's recent history.

Notably, the NRLM has been operational for over a decade, and the Lakhpati Didi initiative represents a more recent push to link self-help group membership to measurable income thresholds. Critics, however, have noted that independent verification of 'Lakhpati' status and the sustainability of income post-loan repayment remain areas requiring closer monitoring.

Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and the BJP's Outreach

The stories emerged on the occasion of the BJP's Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, a public service campaign timed to coincide with Prime Minister Modi's birthday on 17 September and his quarter-century milestone in electoral politics. The party has used the occasion to spotlight beneficiaries of flagship welfare schemes as part of its broader outreach strategy ahead of state elections.

The NRLM's self-help group network — one of the largest of its kind globally — is expected to continue expanding, with the Centre aiming to deepen penetration in states where rural women's financial inclusion remains limited.