NEW DELHI, 28 June 2025: In a major push to empower rural women and accelerate the Lakhpati Didi Mission, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide skill training and entrepreneurial support to members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across India.
The MoU, signed at Krishi Bhawan, aims to align India’s grassroots mobilization with institutional training infrastructure to create scalable, market-based livelihood opportunities for 10 crore SHG women under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of State Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, and MoS (Independent Charge) Jayant Chaudhary were present along with senior officials, including Shailesh Kumar Singh (MoRD) and Atul Kumar Tiwari (MSDE).
“This collaboration reinforces our commitment to transforming rural women into confident entrepreneurs. We are moving closer to our goal of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis across rural India,” said Chouhan. He also hinted at a future milestone—“Millionaire Didis”—as the next big ambition.
Strategic Collaboration for Viksit Bharat@2047
The agreement, valid for three years, will be monitored by a Joint Review Committee to assess quarterly outcomes. It focuses on syncing MoRD’s outreach with MSDE’s training systems, including institutions like JSS, RSETIs, NIESBUD, and NSTIs.
Under this initiative, customized training modules will be developed for emerging sectors, alongside Training of Trainers (ToT) programs, formal certification through the Skill India Digital Hub, and seamless integration of SHG skilling into District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs).
Minister Pemmasani called it “a vital step toward building an inclusive and prosperous Viksit Bharat,” while Chaudhary emphasized the alignment of skill development with rural aspirations.
91 Lakh SHGs: Rural Women Leading the Charge
Under DAY-NRLM, 91 lakh SHGs now represent nearly 10 crore rural women who are reshaping the rural economy. These women have become key drivers in sectors like agriculture, services, and micro-enterprises, showcasing how social capital can fuel national development.
The ministries also launched a revamped Department of Rural Development website and a new digital portal to provide citizens with streamlined access to rural development programs, training updates, and scheme benefits.
This MoU is expected to be a game changer in India's journey toward economic empowerment of rural women, setting the stage for the rise of Millionaire Didis who can lead from the grassroots to the global stage.
