Guwahati: In a landmark move to boost women’s economic empowerment, the Assam government has set a target to transform 30 lakh women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into ‘Lakhpati Didis’ by the year 2028-29. The ambitious plan, which has already seen 8 lakh women achieve this status, is a key pillar of the state’s broader economic upliftment strategy.
Speaking to ANI, Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass highlighted the government’s commitment, stating that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by uplifting four key communities: the poor, farmers, women, and youth. Minister Dass revealed that out of the approximately 40 lakh women SHG members in the state, a massive 30 lakh have been selected for this transformative program.
The process to create these ‘Lakhpati Didis’ is already underway. According to the minister, eligible women will receive a phased financial support, starting with ₹10,000 this October, followed by subsequent grants of ₹25,000 and ₹50,000. The goal is to enable each woman to earn ₹8,000 per month, translating to an annual income of ₹1 lakh. If successful, this initiative is projected to generate business worth an astounding ₹30,000 crore annually for the state, giving a significant boost to Assam’s GDP.
Complementing this, the state is also preparing to launch Orunodoi 3.0, a revised social welfare scheme, on September 17, coinciding with Prime Minister Modi’s birthday. Under this scheme, nearly 40 lakh women beneficiaries across the state will receive a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,250. This includes approximately 6 lakh beneficiaries from the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and 36 lakh from non-BTAD areas.
The Orunodoi scheme, hailed as one of Assam’s largest welfare programs, is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) initiative aimed at providing financial support for essential needs like medicines, pulses, and other necessities. The new iteration, Orunodoi 3.0, will also introduce an additional subsidy of ₹250 for women beneficiaries who have an LPG cylinder connection, increasing their total monthly assistance to ₹1,500. This multi-pronged approach underscores the Assam government’s focus on women’s empowerment as a primary driver for the state’s overall progress.