The Uttar Pradesh government is setting new benchmarks in rural development and women empowerment. This move comes under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
In a significant initiative, the state is working to link women beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) and Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Rural) with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), aiming to provide them with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Lakhpati Didis’
The Rural Development Department is prioritizing the integration of these women into various income-generating activities. The Yogi government intends not only to make these women financially self-reliant through SHGs but also to transform them into ‘Lakhpati Didis’, women earning at least one lakh rupees annually.
This initiative is expected to significantly boost the social and economic empowerment of women in rural areas while also strengthening the grassroots economy of the state.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), each beneficiary receives Rs 1.20 lakh for building a house and Rs 12,000 for constructing a toilet. Along with this, they are also given 90 days of wage employment under MGNREGA and are prioritized for electricity, gas, and water connections.
Now, the government is adding livelihood opportunities to these benefits to help families become more empowered in multiple ways. The Yogi government has directed the State Rural Livelihood Mission to speed up work in this direction.
Self-Help Groups
The aim is to connect more women with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and help them become financially independent through local products, cottage industries, and self-employment. The mission is working to support women in becoming self-reliant through entrepreneurship and skill development.
Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
Various programs are being implemented under this mission, such as the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP), National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), and Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). These schemes aim to increase rural income in a sustainable way.
Women associated with SHGs are being provided training, loans, and resources to help them earn at least Rs 1 lakh annually and achieve economic independence.
CM Awas Yojana
According to official data, since the beginning of this effort, as many as 8.42 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed in the state, connecting over 95 lakh families to these groups. Now, the government is working to include the beneficiaries of the PM Awas Yojana and CM Awas Yojana in this mission, providing them with proper training and support to make them financially independent. Special emphasis is being placed on selecting women beneficiaries for these housing schemes.
In a progressive move, the Yogi government has issued clear instructions that, except in unavoidable situations, all new houses under these schemes will be sanctioned in the name of the female head of the household. Even in cases where houses were previously approved in the name of men, it is now mandatory to include the name of the woman head as well.
Active participation in society
This approach is aimed at not only giving women financial strength and a sense of ownership but also ensuring their active participation in mainstream society. The government has recently extended the deadline for the survey under PMAY-G till April 30, 2025, to ensure that more eligible families can benefit from the scheme.
