The Lakhpati Didi Yojana, initiated by the Modi government to empower rural women, is transforming the lives of middle-class farmers and their families. In Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district, rural women are transitioning from traditional stoves to gas cylinders, becoming self-reliant entrepreneurs. They are venturing into businesses, making rural products marketable internationally, and competing with larger companies.
The Surguja district administration has introduced the Asha Bihan Bazaar, showcasing and packaging products from women’s self-help groups attractively. These products are now available in urban stores and online platforms, featuring the Chhattis Kala brand that facilitates the sale of products across different regions of the state.
Under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, Asha Devi from Kishun Nagar village in Surguja received a Rs 5 lakh loan from the National Rural Livelihood Mission. This financial support has enabled her to achieve self-reliance and establish the Asha Bihan shop. Here, they sell locally made products such as moringa powder, mustard oil, cumin flower rice, and tikhur flour, all crafted by the women’s group.
Vinay Agarwal, the District Panchayat CEO, highlighted that the Bihan Didis in Surguja district produce a range of products. However, due to a lack of proper marketing platforms and branding, their products struggled to gain market recognition. To address this, the products will now be marketed in appealing packaging under the ‘Chattis Kala’ brand.
