Turn Lakhpati Didis into Crorepati Didis, says President Murmu at Saras Mela in Vijayawada

President Droupadi Murmu looks at handwoven baskets at a stall run by a self-help group member at the National Saras Mela in Vijayawada on Thursday. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is in the background. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday (October 15, 2026) called for transforming Lakhpati Didis (a government initiative designed to economically empower rural women by helping them earn a sustainable annual household income of ₹1 lakh or more) into Crorepati Didis. She said rural women should be empowered to become financially independent entrepreneurs and contribute to India’s economic growth.भारत सरकार ने लखपती दीदी के रूप में ग्रामीण महिला सशक्तीकरण को एक विशिष्ट गति और दिशा दी है। डिजिटल सेवाओं और Renewable Energy जैसे अनेक आधुनिक क्षेत्रों में बढ़ती भागीदारी से हमारी ग्रामीण बहनों को कौशल विकास के नये आयाम मिले हैं। आज ग्रामीण महिलाएँ योजनाओं की मात्र लाभार्थी भर नहीं हैं। वे Wealth Creator बनी हैं। वे विकास की वाहक बन रही हैं।— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 15, 2026Addressing the National Saras Mela in Vijayawada, she said Self-Help Groups (SHGs) had played a significant role in strengthening the rural economy and empowering women financially, technologically and socially. The President expressed confidence that India could achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, or even earlier, through women’s empowerment and the collective efforts of the Union and State governments.Ms. Murmu said more than 10 crore women had joined SHGs over the past 12 years, reflecting the growing reach of community-based initiatives. Women associated with more than nine lakh SHGs were making significant contributions to their families’ economic well-being, she said.सरस मेले उन्नतशील ग्रामीण हाटों के रूप में स्थापित हुए हैं। इनके माध्यम से ग्रामीण महिला उद्यमियों का समूचे देश के उपभोक्ताओं से सीधा जुड़ाव सुदृढ़ हुआ है। उन्हें शहरी बाजारों से सीधे जुड़ने के अवसर मिले हैं। Marketing की उनकी क्षमताएँ विकसित हो रही हैं। https://t.co/OmB1pnJacy— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 15, 2026Ms. Murmu said women who had traditionally depended on their families for financial support were increasingly earning independently and supporting others. Some women entrepreneurs were earning more than ₹2 lakh annually, she said. Their earnings contributed to both household incomes and the national economy.India could not achieve its development goals without women’s participation in economic production, she said. Government initiatives had opened new avenues for rural women in agriculture, animal husbandry, micro-enterprises and other livelihood activities.अंत्योदय की व्यापक दृष्टि के अंतर्गत केन्द्र सरकार ने ग्रामीण आजीविका मिशन में महिला नेतृत्व वाली संस्थाओं को केंद्र में रखा है। फलस्वरूप, महिलाएँ गाँवों के कायाकल्प को नेतृत्व प्रदान कर रही हैं। https://t.co/isnbNdyhqV— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 15, 2026She said women were also participating in healthcare, education, animal welfare and local governance, besides becoming increasingly active in rural politics. Their confidence and independence had grown considerably. Women who once hesitated to visit banks now managed financial transactions and dealt with government offices on their own.The President said women-led institutions were at the centre of the Union government’s rural livelihoods mission, helping generate employment and promote inclusive development, including among landless women. More than five crore rural women farmers had been brought into the mission, and lakhs of non-farm enterprises had received assistance, she said.Describing the National Saras Mela as an important platform for rural entrepreneurs, she said it enabled women to showcase traditional products and acquire skills in branding, packaging, networking and marketing. Such opportunities would help them improve product quality, expand markets and build sustainable businesses.Thanking Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for organising the fair alongside the Lakhpati Didi Mela during Dasara, she expressed hope that similar events would be held across the country.President Droupadi Murmu graced the National SARAS Mela, organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The President said that SHGs and SARAS Melas can play a leading role in extending the benefits of development to every village and every household. The President also visited the SARAS stalls and interacted with Lakhpati Didis on the occasion.— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 15, 2026Ms. Murmu urged women never to consider themselves inferior to anyone. Women had demonstrated their abilities in every sphere, she said, expressing confidence that their growing participation would accelerate India’s progress towards becoming a developed nation.Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, K. Rammohan Naidu, Pemmasani Chandrasekhar and others also spoke. Published - October 15, 2026 04:39 pm IST