Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the crucial role of women, or ‘Nari Shakti,’ in achieving a developed India. He stressed that women’s active participation is essential for the country to realize its full economic potential. Fadnavis set a target for Maharashtra to lead by creating one crore ‘Lakhpati Didis.’
Fadnavis commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives for women’s empowerment, which are yielding positive outcomes. Maharashtra is on track to establish 50 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis,’ women with an annual income exceeding Rs 1 lakh. The Chief Minister urged women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to spearhead a 300-crore tree plantation campaign.
He announced a special scheme under the ‘Umed’ Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission to support SHGs in setting up nurseries. The government will cover costs for sapling preparation, plantation, and maintenance, ensuring sustainable commercial income for these groups. Fadnavis praised the Mahalaxmi Saras Exhibition for its quality and organization, comparable to international trade fairs.
He encouraged citizens to back local entrepreneurs by shopping through the Umed Mart digital platform, featuring over 1,000 new products from women’s SHGs. Plans are underway to construct Umed Malls in 20 districts for permanent market access, with expansion to tehsil levels in the future. Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore highlighted the success of the ‘Umed’ mission, benefiting numerous families and SHGs across Maharashtra.
Gore emphasized the financial discipline of women entrepreneurs, with NPA for loans to SHGs below 1%, showcasing their strong repayment record. The exhibition, inaugurated by CM Fadnavis, showcased artisans’ work and released a book featuring 68 women’s success stories under the ‘Umed’ mission.
