PMINDIA

On the occasion of Women’s Day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi engaged in a heartfelt conversation with the Lakhpati Didis in Navsari, Gujarat today, highlighting the significance of women’s empowerment and their contributions to society.

The Prime Minister remarked that while the world celebrates Women’s Day today, in our traditions and culture, it starts with the reverence for the mother, ‘Matru Devo Bhava’. For us, every day of the year is ‘Matru Devo Bhava’, he added.

One of the Lakhpati Didis shared her experience of working with the Shivani Mahila Mandal, where they engage in beadwork, a cultural craft of Saurashtra. She mentioned that they have trained over 400 sisters in beadwork, with other sisters handling marketing and accounting tasks. The Prime Minister inquired if the marketing team travels outside the state, to which she confirmed that they have covered almost all major cities in India. The participant highlighted the success of another Lakhpati Didi, Parul Behen, who earns over 40,000 rupees, and acknowledged the achievement of the Lakhpati Didis. Shri Modi expressed his dream of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis and believed that they could reach five crores.

Another Lakhpati Didi shared her journey of producing syrup from mishri (sugar candy) with 65 women, achieving an annual turnover of Rs 25 to 30 lakhs. She mentioned that the platform provided by the government has enabled them to support helpless women and educate their children. She further informed about their efforts and said that they have even acquired vehicles for their marketing activities. Shri Modi said that he had visited the stalls of most of the Lakhpati Didis without the baggage of being a chief minister or a prime minister and this was normal for him.

Sharing her experience, another Lakhpati Didi assured that she would be a crorepati in a few years time by working hard. She thanked the Prime Minister for showing them the path to success. A Drone Didi sharing her experience told that she is earning around Rs. 2 lakh. The Prime Minister responded with an experience about a lady who does not know how to ride a bicycle but is a drone pilot. The woman, who trained in Pune, Maharashtra, added that she is referred to as a ‘pilot’ by her relatives and friends. She thanked the Prime Minister for giving her an opportunity to be a drone didi and in turn a lakhpati didi today. Shri Modi said that drone didis were now an identity for every village.

Shri Modi then interacted with a Bank Sakhi who does a monthly operation of around Rs. 4 to 5 lakh. Another woman expressed her desire to make other ladies also Lakhpati Didis like she has become.

Prime Minister emphasized the importance of entering online business models and assured government support to upgrade their initiatives. He highlighted that many women are earning at the grassroots level, and the world should know that Indian women are not just confined to household work but are a significant economic force. Shri Modi remarked that rural women are playing a crucial role in India’s economic strength. He observed that women quickly adapt to technology, sharing his experience with the Drone Didis who learned to operate drones within three to four days and practiced sincerely. He highlighted the inherent strength of women in India to struggle, create, nurture, and generate wealth. He expressed his belief that this strength would greatly benefit the country.