Nabarangpur: To empower rural women through economic independence and entrepreneurship, the central and state governments have launched the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative. As part of this mission, a district-level workshop was organized today at the local Subhavinandan Kalyan Mandap with the support of the Odisha Livelihoods Mission.
District Collector Dr. Subhankar Mohapatra attended as the chief guest and encouraged women striving for financial growth and self-reliance. He emphasized that becoming a ‘Lakhpati Didi’ represents women’s empowerment and praised their efforts. Other notable attendees included District Council Development Officer Biranchi Narayan Darobaan, Additional Chief Development Officer Jadumani Nayak, and DPM (OIM) Sasmita Samantaray.
In Nabarangpur district, out of the target of creating 8,802 ‘Lakhpati Didis’ across 10 blocks, 4,310 women have already achieved an annual income of ₹1,00,000 or more. Women SHG members whose annual earnings exceed ₹1 lakh and who have a steady monthly income of at least ₹10,000 from agriculture or business activities are recognized as ‘Lakhpati Didi’.
Women engaged in various entrepreneurial activities such as grocery shops, maize farming, dairy farming, goat and poultry farming, beauty parlors, tailoring, and mushroom cultivation have become successful under this scheme. Notable examples include Sunamani Bhatra and Parbati Harijan from Dabugam block, Kumudini Sahu and Karuna Nag from Papadahandi block, Mini Sahu from Nandahandi block, and Padmini Khati from Nabarangpur block. These women shared their experiences and expressed gratitude to the government for its support.
District Collector Dr. Mohapatra emphasized the need for further skill development and financial support for these women entrepreneurs. He instructed the concerned officials to provide necessary training and assistance.
The workshop saw participation from key officials, including the District Agriculture Officer, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Horticulture Officer, Fisheries Officer, and Mission Shakti officials, who provided information about various government schemes and financial aid. More than 4,000 ‘Lakhpati Didis,’ potential beneficiaries, community support staff, SHG members, bank facilitators, livestock assistants, and other officials attended the event. Representatives from the media were also present.