The Lakhpati Didi Conference held at State High School Ground in Rajnandgaon was attended by the Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, Governor Shri Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, and several other representatives. During the event, the Vice President distributed ₹647.28 crore via DBT to 69,15,273 beneficiaries under the Mahtari Vandan and Niyad Nellanar schemes.
Shri Radhakrishnan said that Lakhpati Didi represents self-reliance and dignity. “This is not merely an income-generating program, but a celebration of women’s confidence and growing influence in society,” he said. He noted that Rajnandgaon has become an example of women’s empowerment, with women progressing both economically and politically.
The Vice President appreciated the efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai to empower women, noting that Chhattisgarh is rapidly advancing in electricity production, health, education, and infrastructure. He emphasized that the Lakhpati Didi movement demonstrates how organized women can write their own stories of change.
Governor Shri Ramen Deka remarked that the conference is not just an event but a living image of a self-reliant Chhattisgarh. It reflects how the hard work, determination, and self-confidence of rural women can write a new chapter of prosperity.
He highlighted that women in every district are becoming economically capable through self-help groups. For instance, in Balrampur, women contribute to orchard development and marketing; in Bastar, they produce organic products from forest produce; and in Kondagaon, they excel in food processing, sewing, and embroidery.
In Rajnandgaon alone, approximately 40,000 Lakhpati Didis have emerged, with 208 women running businesses earning over ₹5 lakh annually and 26 women earning more than ₹10 lakh. Governor Deka noted that these figures signify not just economic achievement but also social change. “Every Didi’s story is an inspiration. When determination meets collective effort, self-reliance ceases to be a dream and becomes reality,” he said.
He also praised women like Padma Shri Phoolbasan Bai Yadav for their exemplary contributions, noting that their work has strengthened the path of women’s empowerment. The Governor added that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, many schemes promote female entrepreneurship and self-employment nationwide, and Chhattisgarh has implemented these schemes effectively, setting an example of a “Empowered India, Empowered Chhattisgarh.”
Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai said that the government aims to create 7,82,000 Lakhpati Didis in the state, of which 4,93,000 women have already become self-reliant. He noted that under the Mahtari Vandan scheme, 70 lakh women receive ₹1,000 per month. The Niyad Nellanar scheme is providing electricity, water, and roads in remote areas of Bastar. He asserted that Chhattisgarh will soon become the leading state in women’s empowerment in India.
Speaker Dr. Raman Singh said that the Lakhpati Didi Conference represents women’s power and self-reliance. He praised Rajnandgaon’s achievements in PM housing, water conservation, and malnutrition eradication campaigns. He also lauded the contributions of Padma Shri Phoolbasan Bai Yadav in inspiring women toward empowerment and self-reliance.
The program was attended by Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, School Education Minister Shri Gajendra Yadav, Labor Welfare Board Chairman Yogeshdatt Mishra, former MP Pradeep Gandhi, other representatives, and a large number of women from self-help groups.
