5.96 Lakh Women Turn Lakhpati in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR : Gujarat’s women-led development journey has received a major boost with more than 5.96 lakh women emerging as ‘Lakhpati Didis’, a milestone that underscores the growing success of grassroots entrepreneurship and financial empowerment across the state. As India pushes towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, these women are rewriting the narrative of rural prosperity by transforming self-help groups into engines of economic growth.

The achievement comes under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, launched in 2023 to empower rural women through sustainable livelihood opportunities. The scheme initially aimed to create three crore Lakhpati Didis by 2027, but the target has since been doubled to six crore women by March 2029. In Gujarat alone, more than 5.96 lakh women had crossed the annual income threshold of ₹1 lakh by December 2025, highlighting the state’s strong implementation of the initiative.

The success stories of women from Central Gujarat are expected to take centre stage at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference scheduled to be held at GSFC University in Vadodara on June 29 and 30.

Among them is Kalpana Ben Gohil from Latipura village in Vadodara district, whose journey reflects the transformative power of self-help groups. After joining the Shree Ganesh Sakhi Mandal in 2019, she expanded her livelihood activities by working as a Banking Correspondent Sakhi and engaging in animal husbandry. Today, she earns an annual income of ₹5.60 lakh.

“The support of the Sakhi Mandal gave me confidence and opportunities to become financially independent. Today, I am able to support my family and guide other women as well,” Kalpana Ben said.

Another inspiring example is Hansaben Rathod of Anand district. After receiving training through a Rural Self-Employment Training Institute and working as a Banking Correspondent Sakhi, she now earns ₹4.15 lakh annually.

“The scheme has shown rural women that financial independence is achievable through dedication and the right support system,” Hansaben said.

Komal Ben Chauhan from Anand has carved her own path through eco-friendly handicrafts, terracotta products and traditional decorative items. Supported by skill development training, she now earns around ₹2.5 lakh annually through her craft-based enterprise.

Officials said these success stories demonstrate how Self-Help Groups, skill development programmes and access to financial opportunities are helping women become entrepreneurs, job creators and community leaders.

As Gujarat prepares to host the regional conference, the stories of these Lakhpati Didis stand as powerful examples of how targeted government initiatives can turn aspiration into achievement, driving inclusive growth and economic empowerment across rural India.