Bhubaneswar: In a groundbreaking move toward women’s economic empowerment, Odisha has secured the second spot nationwide, with over 9.36 lakh women now earning more than Rs 1 lakh annually through the state’s ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative.
Spearheaded by the Odisha government, the program is transforming the economic landscape for rural women, equipping them with skills, resources, and opportunities to achieve financial independence.
Launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative aims to empower women by fostering entrepreneurship, providing financial literacy, and offering market linkages. The initiative has been closely aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to empower women economically, making them key contributors to the nation’s growth.
One of the most remarkable stories emerging from this initiative is that of Dipanjali Chotray, a resident of Kumbhilo village in Khordha district. Before joining the Biswa Jagruti Self-Help Group (SHG) in 2021, Dipanjali’s family struggled to make ends meet. With her husband working in sharecropping and managing a small grocery store, their income barely covered daily expenses.
However, Dipanjali’s participation in the SHG program changed everything. She was introduced to the Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) loan scheme, which provided her with Rs 40,000 in seed capital. Additionally, she received an extra Rs 15,000 loan from the Gram Panchayat Level Federation.
Armed with these funds, Dipanjali expanded her grocery business, introducing new products like packaged spices and traditional ‘Badi’ (sun-dried lentil dumplings), which she began selling at local and state-level melas.
Today, Dipanjali’s business generates a gross income of Rs 3.36 lakh annually, with a net profit of Rs 2.16 lakh. Beyond the financial gains, the success has enabled her to invest in her children’s education and improve her family’s living standards.
The success of Dipanjali and others like her highlights the transformative potential of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative.
Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) has been at the forefront of supporting these women entrepreneurs, offering training, financial services and crucial market linkages.
The initiative’s impact was further showcased at the recent Subhadra Shakti Mela in Bhubaneswar, where hundreds of women entrepreneurs came together to sell their products, generating over Rs 5 crore in sales.
With the support of OLM, these women are not only accessing local markets but are also being empowered to explore digital platforms, e-commerce, and even international markets. Certification programs like ISO, Organic, and Fair Trade are also helping their products gain credibility and open new avenues for sales.
The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative is more than just a financial program. It is a social movement reshaping women’s roles in Odisha’s rural economy. As more women like Dipanjali join the initiative and succeed, Odisha is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable society where women’s economic participation is central to the state’s growth.
Through strategic planning, financial support, and access to markets, Odisha is setting a powerful example of how women’s empowerment can drive both personal and community-wide progress. The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative is a beacon of hope, showing that when women thrive, entire communities prosper.
