Mumbai, Feb 14 (IANS) Sustained fiscal commitment has driven rural transformation, with rural development budget allocations rising over 211 per cent in a decade to Rs 2.73 lakh crore in 2026-27, according to an official statement.The poverty has declined significantly, with extreme poverty at 5.3 per cent in 2022-23 less than the global average and multidimensional poverty down to 11.28 per cent in 2023 from 55.3 per cent in 2005–06, the statement said.Rural connectivity is near‑universal, …
Latest Self-help groups News & Updates
Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 11 (IANS) The Centre’s ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme is emerging as a powerful instrument of transformation for women in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district, with beneficiaries sharing stories of entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and renewed confidence, particularly among women from economically weaker, Dalit, and marginalised sections. Women associated with various self-help groups (SHGs) in the district credited the BJP’s double-engine government for providi…
New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) As many as 900 women entrepreneurs from 28 states are participating in ‘SARAS Aajeevika Mela-2026’ – a grand fair of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ – being held in Gurugram under the leadership of Union Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, an official said on Tuesday. The Mela, which promises to present colours of the country’s rural traditions, folk arts, and women’s entrepreneurship, is being organised …
New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) As many as 2.94 crore women’s self-help group (SHG) members in rural areas have been trained on various aspects of financial inclusion, including banking services, during the first nine months of FY 2025-26, up to December, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. To enhance awareness of financial products and services in rural areas, the National Livelihood Mission has undertaken extensive Financial Literacy initiatives through trained Financial Literacy Community Resource …
Prayagraj, Feb 4 (IANS) Handicraft products made by local artisans are emerging as a major attraction for visitors at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj, as the Centre’s ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative gives a strong push to indigenous crafts and traditional livelihoods. Under the initiative, products manufactured by rural artisans and Self-Help Groups are being prominently showcased at the Mela. Devotees and tourists are showing keen interest in a wide range of locally made items, including handicra…
Chennai, Feb 4 (IANS) In a significant welfare measure aimed at strengthening rural sanitation and improving the livelihoods of frontline workers, the Tamil Nadu government has increased the monthly pay of sanitation workers employed in village panchayats from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000.The decision comes as part of a broader effort to modernise waste management systems and address the growing demands of rural areas experiencing rapid population growth and urbanisation.Recognising the mounting pressur…
Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday directed the administration to undertake a massive programme to plant 300 crore trees between 2026 and 2031. This initiative aims to increase Maharashtra’s green cover based on the three pillars of environmental conservation, combating climate change, and rural employment generation.Along with experts and NGOs, the Chief Minister emphasised the inclusion of startups in this mission. The directives were given during a r…
Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 1 (IANS) Women in Kanpur have welcomed the Union Budget, saying its emphasis on women’s empowerment and support for female entrepreneurs will help strengthen self-reliance and contribute to economic growth. Women from different walks of life said the budget reflects the government’s intent to encourage women-led development by creating opportunities for financial independence and entrepreneurship. They expressed hope that targeted measures and schemes announced in t…
New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it a “highway of immense opportunities” and said that the “Reform Express” on which India is riding, “will gain new energy and momentum through this budget”.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget on Sunday, motivated by three ‘kartavyas’ or duties aimed at boosting and maintaining economic growth by improving competitiveness, meeting aspirations, and e…
Gandhinagar, Jan 22 (IANS) The Sakhi Craft Bazaar, organised at the Rann Utsav in Kutch, has emerged as a major platform for women-led entrepreneurship, registering sales of over Rs 5 crore within a month of its launch. The bazaar, which has attracted a footfall of more than 4.5 lakh visitors, is being hailed as one of the key highlights of this year’s Rann Utsav.Held from December 4, 2025, to January 15, 2026, the Sakhi Craft Bazaar has been organised under the leadership and vision of Chief …