Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai encouraged women from self-help groups in remote tribal regions to aim higher and become “Crorepati Didis,” while interacting with villagers during the Su-Shasan Tihar programme in Kabirdham district.
The interaction took place in Kamrakhol village under Lokhan Gram Panchayat, where the Chief Minister held an informal discussion with rural women under the shade of a large mango tree amid the forested region.
During the interaction, women shared stories of financial struggles, limited livelihood opportunities and their transformation into self-reliant entrepreneurs through self-help groups linked to the Bihan scheme.
When informed that several women in the area had already become “Lakhpati Didis” through livelihood initiatives, the Chief Minister praised their determination and said they should now aspire to become crorepatis through entrepreneurship and economic growth.
One of the beneficiaries, Kachra Telgam from Kukdoor village, shared how she used a loan of ₹2 lakh received under the Bihan scheme to purchase shuttering plates and start a construction-support business.
She said the journey was initially difficult, but sustained efforts helped expand the business significantly. Today, she owns nearly 1,700 square feet of shuttering material and has contributed to the construction of more than 22 houses, earning an annual income of around ₹2.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh.
Kachra Telgam said that while she was once limited to household responsibilities, she now contributes significantly to her family’s financial stability, including children’s education and savings for the future.
The state government said the interaction reflected how welfare and livelihood schemes are driving economic and social transformation in remote tribal regions, with women-led self-help groups emerging as key drivers of rural economic empowerment in Chhattisgarh.
