On the occasion of International Women's Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with recipients of the "Lakhpati Didi" program in Gujarat's Navsari district today.

In addition to attending the "Lakhpati Didi Sammelan" in Vansi Borsi hamlet, Modi gave more than 2.5 lakh women from more than 25,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) Rs 450 crore in financial aid.

The Union government introduced the Lakhpati Didi initiative in 2023, which designates women members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) who earn at least Rs 1 lakh a year from small businesses, agriculture, and animal husbandry as "Lakhpati Didis."

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Navsari MP C R Paatil were there when Modi participated in "prerna samvaad" with a group of "Lakhpati Didis" who recounted their stories.

PM Modi will also unveil two revolutionary plans, G-SAFAL and G-MAITRI:

G-SAFAL (Gujarat Scheme for Better Livelihoods for Antyodaya Families)

This Rs 500 cr project, which aims to assist 50,000 women from Antyodaya families throughout Gujarat, would give each beneficiary Rs 1 lac in cash aid and vocational training, with mentors providing weekly coaching.

G-MAITRI (Gujarat Mentorship and Acceleration of Individuals for Transforming Rural Income)

This program, which aims to promote rural entrepreneurship, will help more than 150 firms and provide over 10 lac in benefits to rural women and young people. 

For seed and scale-stage enterprises, the Gujarat Social Enterprise Fund (G-SEF) has set aside Rs 50 cr to provide grants of Rs 20–30 lac.

 

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Both programs seek to develop Gujarat's grassroots economy, promote rural businesses, and increase women's financial independence.