The National Democratic Alliance in Bihar unveiled its ‘Sankalp Patra’ on Friday, 31 October, 2025, for the upcoming Assembly elections, which is a blueprint for the state’s development over the next five years.
‘Lakhpati Didi Yojana,’ a mission designed to transform the economic status of one crore (10 million) rural women across Bihar.
The goal is simple yet powerful: to make every targeted ‘Didi’ (sister) a ‘Lakhpati,’ someone whose annual household income is at least ₹1,00,000.
What is the Lakhpati Didi Yojana?
The Lakhpati Didi Yojana is essentially a large-scale mission in order to promote economic self-reliance and entrepreneurship among women’s groups in society, especially those in rural areas.
The term “Lakhpati Didi” refers to a woman from a rural Self-Help Group (SHG) whose annual household income exceeds ₹1,00,000, which is an average monthly income of over ₹10,000.
Aim of Lakhpati Didi Yojana
The scheme aims to achieve this by diversifying their sources of income and providing them with the necessary tools, skills, and capital to start or scale up small businesses in sectors like agriculture, handicrafts, animal husbandry, and village-level services.
Who is eligible for Lakhpati Didi Yojana?
The primary eligibility criteria focus on the applicant’s connection to community support systems:
The applicant must be a member of a registered Self-Help Group (SHG), like the Jeevika groups in Bihar, for a minimum period (often two years) and actively participate in its activities.
The scheme mainly targets women from economically weaker sections in rural areas.
The goal is to uplift women’s groups from lower-income categories to higher so that their household total annual income rises to over ₹1 lakh. While not an official limit, some guidelines suggest the applicant’s family income should be below a certain threshold (like ₹3 lakh) to qualify for priority.
While specific state rules may vary, most central and state schemes of this nature generally target women in the 18 to 60 years age bracket, focusing on those who are in their active working years of their life.
Also Read: NDA Unveils Bihar Manifesto 2025: 1 Crore Jobs, Women Empowerment, & ‘Mission Crorepati’ for Women
How to Apply for the Lakhpati Didi Yojana Scheme
To apply for Lakhpati Didi Yojana. You need to follow the following steps:
Join a Self-Help Group (SHG): The most crucial first step is to be an active member of a local SHG (like Jeevika in Bihar). These groups are the main channel for the scheme.
Contact Community Resource Persons (CRPs): Each SHG is supported by trained Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and Master Trainers. Women need to contact these local functionaries at the Gram Panchayat or Block Development Office (BDO) to express interest and get guidance.
The SHG and CRPs will help the woman prepare a viable business plan and enroll her in the necessary skill development and training programs related to her chosen livelihood activity.
Based on the business plan, the woman is assisted in getting financial support, primarily through bank linkages and subsidized loans.
The process is generally offline and community-driven, focusing on local support rather than a complex online portal, although digital records (Digital Aajeevika Register) are used for tracking progress.
Benefits of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana
The benefits provided under the scheme are multi-faceted, focusing on financial support, skill development, and market access:
Financial Assistance & Loans: Collateral-Free Bank Loans: SHGs can receive collateral-free bank loans, often up to ₹20 lakh. Individual members can also get credit guarantees for loans up to ₹5 lakh for their enterprises.
Seed Capital: Access to funds like the Community Investment Fund (CIF) to start or grow their business.
Interest Subvention: Low or subsidized interest rates on loans to reduce the financial burden.
Skill Development and Training: Women receive training in areas like financial literacy, business management, new agricultural techniques (e.g., using drones), and specialized livelihood skills.
Diversified Income: The scheme encourages women to engage in at least two different livelihood activities (like farming and a small shop) to ensure stable and sustainable income throughout the year.
Non-Financial Support: This includes market linkages, business consultation services (through One Stop Facility centers), and support to form larger producer groups to negotiate better prices and access bigger markets.
Also Read: NDA Manifesto in Bihar Promises Free and Quality Education from Primary to Postgraduate Level
