In a recent virtual meeting as part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Mamta Dhindhore, a self-employed woman from Dungarpur, Rajasthan, and her team of 7,500 women from 150 self-help groups (SHGs). They were recognized for their efforts in providing awareness, training, and assistance to people seeking loans under various government schemes. The interaction, which included thousands of beneficiaries nationwide, aimed to empower rural populations through diverse schemes and activities.
Dhindore, hailing from a joint family, shared her success story during the meeting. She discussed her utilization of loans for vegetable farming and running a vegetable shop. Prime Minister Modi acknowledged her adaptability to the modern world and praised the women in her group, highlighting that their experiences would resonate with many women entrepreneurs present at the event.
Among the beneficiaries featured was Kalpana Bai, a transgender person from Mumbai and a leader of the Sai Kinnar Bachat SHG. Kalpana spoke about her journey from begging on the streets to empowering the transgender community through entrepreneurship, specifically in basket-making and an idli-dosa business. She credited the government’s Urban Livelihood Mission and SVANidhi schemes for their significant support.
According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, approximately 9.00 crore women are connected with around 83.5 lakh women SHGs. The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to further empower women through SHGs and unveiled plans to create 2 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ as part of this vision.
In the virtual meeting, Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of Mamta Dhindhore’s story, stating, “He said they would strike a chord with the many women entrepreneurs present at the event.” He also highlighted the impact of government schemes on Kalpana Bai’s journey, stating, “Kalpana, who runs a basket-making and an idli-dosa business, spoke about how the government’s Urban Livelihood Mission and SVANidhi schemes had helped her and her community.” The Prime Minister concluded by expressing the government’s commitment, saying, “The government is making an effort to empower women further through SHGs and plans to create 2 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’, as part of this vision.”
