Women Empowerment Shines from Chanduali to Kyonjhar with Lakshmi Didi Initiative

Chanduali, Kyonjhar, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : Celebrations are underway across India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday approaches on September 17. The Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to mark this occasion as a “Seva Sankalp” day. In this context, rural women associated with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) have praised PM Modi’s initiatives, particularly the ‘Lakshmi Didi’ program, which has significantly impacted their lives.

In Chanduali, Uttar Pradesh, women from self-help groups have rewritten their stories of self-reliance. Once on the lookout for jobs, these women are now running their own businesses and providing employment to others. The work initiated under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme in zari-zardozi has become a financial lifeline for around 11 Muslim families.

Members of the self-help groups shared that life was challenging before joining government schemes, but they have now become self-sufficient. Rekha Kumari, a beneficiary, noted that her life transformed completely after connecting with the NRLM.

Group president Afshana, along with members Aasiya and Parveen, expressed their newfound financial independence. On the occasion of PM Modi’s birthday, they extended their greetings and acknowledged that his programs have given rural women a new identity.

Similarly, Jyotsna Rani Mahanta from Govindpur village in Kyonjhar, Odisha, exemplifies the success of the ‘Lakshmi Didi’ initiative. She stated, “I am a Lakshmi Didi from Govindpur. I received a loan of one lakh rupees under the program. Previously, managing my household was tough. Now, I have purchased a sewing machine and earn well, making it easier to run my home.”

Jyotsna expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister, praying for his long life to continue serving the nation. Under the NRLM, millions of women across the country are joining self-help groups and moving towards becoming Lakshmi Didis. The government’s aim is to empower three crore women, marking a significant chapter in women’s empowerment in rural India.