PM Modi to Commemorate International Women's Day with Lakhpati Didis in Navsari, Gujarat

Ahmedabad, March 8 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to celebrate International Women's Day in Gujarat's Navsari this Saturday by engaging with 'Lakhpati Didis' and unveiling crucial initiatives aimed at enhancing women's financial autonomy.

The Prime Minister will participate in the 'Lakhpati Didi Sammelan' at Vansi-Borsi, where he will allocate over Rs 450 crore in financial support to more than 2.5 lakh women from over 25,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) throughout the state.

At the gathering, PM Modi will converse with ten chosen Lakhpati Didis and bestow certificates to five of them. A documentary showcasing the achievements of the Lakhpati Didi Scheme in Gujarat will be presented, alongside the launch of two significant state-specific initiatives aimed at fostering financial independence among women.

The 'Lakhpati Didi Yojana', initiated by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2023, focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs by acknowledging those earning Rs 10,000 or more monthly and boasting an annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh through activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, and small-scale industries.

Approximately 1.5 lakh women in Gujarat have already reached this landmark.

The 'Lakhpati Didi Sammelan' will witness participation from nearly one lakh women across Navsari, Valsad, and Dang districts, most of whom are part of SHGs that have attained the Lakhpati Didi status or aspire to achieve it.

After the event, a public function will occur, where PM Modi will introduce two state-level schemes -- G-SAFAL and G-MAITRI -- intended to uplift women from marginalized communities and promote rural entrepreneurship.

The G-SAFAL (Gujarat Scheme for Better Livelihoods for Antyodaya Families) initiative, launching on March 8, aims to enhance the livelihoods of women from Antyodaya families by improving their financial independence.

Over the next five years, this scheme is expected to help 50,000 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cardholder families across two aspirational districts and 13 aspirational talukas in Gujarat. The program will provide financial support and entrepreneurial training to women from SHGs in Antyodaya families.

Each participating woman will receive Rs 1 lakh in financial aid accompanied by vocational training, with a total assistance pool of Rs 500 crore earmarked to benefit 50,000 women. To ensure efficient execution, field coaches will be assigned, with one mentor guiding 50 to 60 women in weekly coaching and capacity-building sessions.

To promote rural startups and foster social entrepreneurship, the G-MAITRI (Gujarat Mentorship and Acceleration of Individuals for Transforming Rural Income) scheme will also be launched.

This initiative aims to assist rural entrepreneurs and strengthen the startup ecosystem in Gujarat by providing essential resources and funding. The Gujarat Social Enterprise Fund (G-SEF) has allocated Rs 50 crore over the next five years to support startups focused on improving rural livelihoods.

Through this scheme, over 10 lakh rural women and youth will be offered livelihood opportunities.

The G-MAITRI scheme is designed to support over 150 startups in the next five years through seed and scale startup programs. Grants ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh will be allocated to startups, with seed-stage startups receiving Rs 20 lakh and scale-stage startups eligible for up to Rs 30 lakh.

This initiative will not only stimulate economic growth in rural areas but also inspire innovation and self-reliance among aspiring entrepreneurs.