Under Lakhpati Didi Yojana and Mission Mangalam in Surat district, more than 52,000 women have become self-sufficient by earning more than ₹ 1 lakh per annum. These schemes are providing financial assistance, training and encouragement to rural women through Sakhi Mandals for various occupations.
Lakhpati Didi Yojana: Under the successful leadership of the Prime Minister, the series of faith, development and Janakalyan works have been moving at an unabated pace in the last 12 years. Many new dimensions of development have been achieved in the last 12 years in Surat district including the entire state.
The benefits of various government schemes have reached the poor and needy families living in the far reaches of the district. One such scheme is the ‘Lakhpati Didi Yojana’ and the ‘National Rural Livelihood Mission (Mission Mangalam)’, which has proved to be the ‘economic self-reliance shield’ of the women of the rural poor families of the state.
As for Surat district, under the Mission Mangalam scheme implemented by the Prime Minister in the year 2010 and subsequently the Lakhpati Didi scheme announced on 15 August 2023, Surat district has done commendable work.
Through various scheme fairs, training camps and livelihood activities, a total of 52,526 women at rural level in Surat have become ‘Lakhpati Didi’ earning at least Rs.1 lakh per year and become economically self-reliant and empowered. In the current year 2025-26 as well, Baroda Swarojgar Vikas Sansthan (RSETI) has provided new employment opportunities to 939 Sakhi Mandal sisters by imparting livelihood training.
Benefits of Lakhpati Didi Yojana and Mission Mangalam
Known for economic and social upliftment of women, under this scheme 10 sisters from rural poor families gather to form ‘Sakhi Mandal’ (Self Help Group). A revolving fund of Rs.30,000 is provided by the government to enable the groups to build their capacity at the initial stage. Then at the village level 10 such Sakhi Mandals come together to form a ‘Village Sangathan’, in which 100 sisters join. These village associations are given financial assistance of up to Rs.15 lakh as Community Investment Fund from the government to start a livelihood or a cottage industry.
Apart from this, the sisters are encouraged to get an initial Rs.1.5 lakh loan from the bank at 7 percent interest rate for livelihood, and stamp duty waiver on loans up to Rs.3 lakh in the second year and up to Rs.20 lakh on regular installments.
Eligibility, Documents and Mandate of Formation
Sisters with similar economic needs in rural areas can organize and form self-help groups to avail the benefits of this scheme. For this, necessary documents like Aadhaar card, ration card, bank passbook and income proof of members are indispensable. Sakhi Mandal can be registered by contacting the nearest Government Hospital (CHC/PHC) or Jan Seva Kendra or Mission Mangalam branch of Taluka Panchayat. Institutions like Baroda Swarojgar Vikas Sansthan encourage women to provide livelihood oriented and skill enhancement training free of cost.
A proud achievement of 11,153 SHGs in Surat district
A total of 11,153 self-help groups have been formed till date under the National Rural Livelihood Mission in Surat district, in which 1,04,914 women are affiliated. As many as 3,986 of these groups have been given Rs. 52 crores of credit has been provided. A total of 6,241 groups in Surat district have been given Rs. 789.20 lakhs has been allocated, while 238 village associations have received Rs. 3299.18 lakhs has been provided as Community Investment Fund. A total of 505 village associations are active in the district, out of which 3,775 groups are successfully earning their livelihood through various economic activities.
Inspiring Economic Activities and Businesses of Sakhi Mandals
Sisters of Surat district have become self-sufficient by doing various unique professions. 27 sisters of Morli Sakhi Mandal of Mahuwa taluka are earning Rs.12,000 to Rs.15,000 per month by providing electricity meter reading services under contract with DGVCL company. Shree Ganesh Sakhi Mandal of Boria village in Mahuva earns a monthly income of over Rs.15,000 by making nutritious mushroom papad and flour online.
Groups from Mandvi and Umarpada talukas make and sell Nagli’s papad, flour, wafers and pickled bamboo and earn over Rs 75,000 per month through the “Nahri Hotel” they have started. Navadurga Mahila Mandal of Ghantoli village in Mandvi is promoting organic farming by making high quality vermicompost from cow dung and earthworms.
Apart from this, 31 canteens are functioning in the government premises in the district, tiffin service is running in Choryasi and Kamraj talukas, Atyuttam Sakhi Mandal of Baben village in Bardoli and other mandals manufacture health and hygiene products like phenyl, soap, lip balm, lotion and sanitary pads. The sisters of Choryasi and Bardoli are providing excellent examples of rural entrepreneurship by producing jute products such as shopping bags, laptop bags and Kamrej, Allpad, Mangarol in puja materials, incense sticks, incense and attractive artificial, oxidized and fabric jewellery.
