3.24 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ playing crucial role, says Punjab’s MP Sandhu

Chandigarh, April 27 Over 3.24 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ have been playing a crucial role in improving the rural economy of Punjab, said BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh Sandhu while announcing setting up a skill training centre near Chandigarh from his MPLAD fund.

Interacting with over 1,200 women from villages at a function organised by BJP leader and former Punjab Agro Industries vice-chairman Manpreet Singh Bunny Sandhu in Dera Bassi town, the Rajya Sabha member stressed the need for setting up a skill training centre for women from surrounding villages. He asked Bunny Sandhu to search for suitable land for establishing the centre and asserted that he would approach the central government for funds and also contribute from his MPLAD fund.

BJP's district in-charge Jagdeep Singh Aujala was also present on the occasion.

Lauding the contribution of the Union government’s initiatives, such as 'Lakhpati Didis’ and ‘Drone Didis' to empower the women, Sandhu spoke about the role of the women during the freedom struggle and also in developing the country's economy post-Independence.

He said out of the 2.9 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ from across the country, 324,811 were from Punjab. Similarly, Punjab accounts for 57 self-help groups (SHGs), with an equal number of women members trained as drone pilots, reflecting the state’s contribution to technology-driven livelihood initiatives.

The Union Rural Development Ministry's ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme empowers women in SHGs to earn a sustainable annual household income of Rs 1 lakh or more. Aimed at creating six crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’, it offers skill training, financial literacy, and credit support to foster entrepreneurship, allowing women to lift their families out of poverty.

On the other hand, the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme launched by the Centre provides drones to 15,000 women SHGs with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore. It aims to empower rural women by training them as drone pilots to provide agricultural services, such as fertiliser and pesticide spraying, to local farmers.

Sandhu said that the two initiatives have transformed lives in Punjab by making women financially independent, thus enhancing their social standing.

On the occasion, various stalls were set up by SHG women in Dera Bassi and Lalru, showcasing Punjab-specific products rooted in local traditions and artisanal skills, including phulkari, suits, juttis, honey, pickles, squash, vinegar, oils, masalas, papad, soaps and candles.

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