Bihar has become the first state in the country to have 50 lakh women achieve ‘Lakhpati Didi’ status through various livelihood initiatives, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on Thursday.
Addressing the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana programme in Patna, Choudhary said financial assistance had been provided to 1.81 crore women under the scheme, with a significant number using the funds to start or expand income-generating activities.
"The funds were distributed to 1.81 crore sisters. Our data shows that approximately 37 per cent, around 25 to 27 lakh sisters, used the money for activities like animal husbandry," the chief minister said.
Around 18% of the women beneficiaries entered agriculture, while others took up manufacturing and worked on developing markets for their products, he said.
Choudhary said livelihood programmes had also helped three lakh ‘Jeevika Didis’ earn more than Rs 2 lakh annually.
"Over 10 lakh sisters are integrating three different types of livelihood activities. Another 25 lakh sisters are engaged in two varieties of livelihood activities, ranging from goat rearing to operating pushcarts or other small-scale ventures, while approximately 12 lakh sisters are currently engaged in a single type of employment," he said.
The chief minister said the government would now focus on creating a dedicated mechanism to identify and track women who have attained ‘Lakhpati Didi’ status.
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"While we will continue to support families, we must create a system that specifically tracks and distinguishes these 'Lakhpati Didis' to understand exactly how many of our sisters have achieved this status," Choudhary said.
The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative seeks to promote women's financial independence by encouraging self-employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities through self-help groups and other support mechanisms.
Choudhary said the achievement reflected the impact of women-centric development programmes in Bihar and stressed the need to further expand livelihood opportunities for women across the state.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister said educated and self-reliant women were essential to building a developed and prosperous Bihar.
Choudhary made the remarks while laying the foundation stone for a G+6 science block and auditorium at Magadh Mahila College in Patna. He also interacted with students and discussed their academic needs, aspirations and suggestions.
"The progress of women is the progress of Bihar. Providing quality education, modern facilities and opportunities to daughters and sisters is essential for building a developed Bihar," he said.
